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THE TARGUMS
OP
ONKELOS AND JONATHAN BEN UZZIEL
ON THE PENTATEUCH;
WITH THE FRAGMENTS OF THE
JERUSALEM TARGUM:
PROM THE CHALDEE.
BY
J. W. ETHERIDGE, M.A.,
TRANSLATOR OF THE NEW TESTAMENT FROM THE PESCHITO SYRIAC.
GENESIS AND EXODUS.
For tills Law is our Inheritance, not only as a lesson of memory, but as
a means of knowing the Commandment which the Lord our God hath
commanded us, to learn and to teach, to keep and to perform : for
this will be our life, and the prolongment of our days.”
Mendelssohn.
LONDON :
LONGMAN, GEEEN, LONGMAN, AND ROBERTS.
1862.
LONDON :
PRINTED BY WILLIAM NICHOLS,
46, HOXTON SQUARE.
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PATRONS MEJ5 ET UXORI,
ELIS/E,
PULCHR.2B, PL2E, SEMPER CARISSIM.E ;
COMPLORATAS,
YERUNTAMEN NON SINE SPE CONSTANTI ET CERTA ;
EVANESCE,
; TANTUM DONEC ASPIEET DlES, ET DIFFUGIANT UMBRAE.
1
A 2
639910
INTRODUCTION.
23
The Son of God. — De Agric. Mark i. 1. The (Seure-
po? 0eo?) Second God, the Word. — John i. ]. The
Image of God. — De Mund. Ojgif. Col. i. 15 ; Heb. i.
2. The intellectual sun, the light of the world. — De
Somn. John i. 4-9 ; John viii. 12. The fountain of
wisdom. — De Prof. John iv. 14; vii. 38; 1 Cor. i.
24. He is nearest to God. — De Prof. John i. 1, 18;
xvii. 11. He is sent from God. — Quis Per. Div. John
v. 37 ; viii. 29, 42. He is the Mediator standing
between the living and the dead. — Quis Per. Div. 1
Tim. ii. 5 ; Heb. viii. 1-6. The High Priest [Archi¬
ereus). — De Somn. Heb. iv. 14. The Healer of evils.
— De Alleg. Luke iv. 18 ; 1 Peter ii. 24. The Advocate
of mortal man. — Quis Per. Rom. viii. 21 ; 1 John ii. 1.
The Shepherd of God’s flock. — De Agric. John x. 14 ;
1 Peter ii. 25. He is possessed of regal power. — De
Prof. 1 Cor. xv. 25 ; Eph. i. 21, 22 ; Rev. xvii. 14.
He liberates men from corruption, and entitles them to
immortality. — De Congregat. Erudit. Rom. viii. 21 ;
1 Cor. xv. 52, 53 ; 1 Peter i. 3, 4. Imparts spiritual
freedom. — Ibid. John viii. 36. He is the sure refuge
of those who seek Him. — De Prof. Matt. xi. 28 ; 1 Peter
ii. 25. He is the heavenly bread of the soul. — Fragm.
John vi. 32, 35, It was He who called to Adam in
the garden, — De Somn. ; spake to Hagar, — De Cherub. ;
wrestled with Jacob, — De Norn, mutand. ; and spoke
to Moses from the bush. — De Somn.
Now when we consider that these statements were
written by the Alexandrian theologue some years before
an evangelist or apostle had set pen to parchment, and,
in fact, before our Saviour had begun His public ministry,
we are shut up to the conclusion that the Divine
personality of the Word was a doctrine already believed
among the Jews. In philosophy, indeed, Philo was a
Platonist; and many of his speculations are strongly
24
INTRODUCTION.
tinged with the colours of that school ; but the Platonic
learning never taught him the wonders which lie has
recounted of the Eternal Word. Philo was not merely
a Platonist, he was a Jew; and in the theologisms we
have cited he gives expression to the traditional dogmas
of his own people.
We have given these quotations from Philo and the
Targums to prove an historic and incontrovertible fact,
— that the Jews of the ante-apostolic age believed in a
Divine Personality in the Godhead, wrhom they distin¬
guished from another therein by the appellation of the
Word. On the question whether they were warranted
in such a belief by the teachings of Divine Revelation, 1
I need not now enter. The appeal here would be not
to the Targums, as such, but to the text of the canonical
Hebrew Scriptures; and he who searches them wdtli
intelligence, and with freedom from prejudice, will be
sure to find that they were right.
It was this Divine Person who, with the names ' of
the Word and the Angel, appeared, as Jehovah, to the
patriarchs: Gen. iii. 8-21; xii. 7. Compare xvii. 1;
xv. 1; xviii. 1-16, 33; xix. 17-24; xxii. 11,12;
xxvi. 2, 24; xxviii. 11, 20; xxxi. 11-13; xxxii. 24-
30, with Hosea xii. 4, 5 ; Gen. xlviii. 15, 16.
It was He who delivered Israel from Egypt, and
became their Guardian and Guide to the promised land.
Exod. iii. 1-14, with John viii. 58 ; Exod. xiv. 19, 20;
xix. 3-11, 16-18; Acts vii. 38; Exod. xxiii. 20-25 ;
Isai. lxiii. 9; Exod. xxiv. 9-15; xxxii. 33, 34;
xxxiii. 2-4, 14; xxxiv. 5-7, 10-14; Joshua v. 14,
15 ; Judges ii. 1-4. Compare this last important
passage with Exod. xxxiv. 10-14; Judges vi.
And it was He who wTas so often manifested in glory
and grace to the prophetic seers. Ezek. i, 28, with
ix. 3 ; xliii. 3, seq. Dan. xii. 1, with x. 5, 6. Jer. i.
INTRODUCTION. 25 •
4, 11, 13, with xxiv. 1; Amos vii. 7; ix. 1; Zech. i.
1-13 ; ii. 6-13; iii. 1-4; Mai. iii. 1-3.
In the study of these texts good help may be
obtained from Dr. Pye Smith's “ Scripture Testimony
to the Messiah ; " and a more compact Dissertation of
J. J. Gurney, in his “ Biblical Notes on the Deity
of Christ," No. 14. It may be acceptable to the
student to subjoin here a compendium of the biblio¬
graphy on the Targums at large.
I. Principal Editions. — Onkelos : in the Polyglots.
Bononia, with the Commentary of Jarchi, folio, 1482.
Soria, 1490. Constantinople, 4to., 1505. Wilna, 8vo.,
1852.
Jonathan, on the Pentateuch (Palestinian Targum) :
in the Polyglots. Venice, 4to., 1591. Prague, 1646.
Basil, folio, 1607. Hanau, 8vo., 1614. Berlin, 4to.,
1705. Amsterdam, 1760. Ostroh, 8vo., 1826.
- , on the Prophets : Polyglots and Rabbinical
Bibles of Venice and Basil. Separate books of the
Prophets have been published in numerous editions,
with and without Latin translations.
- , on the Ketuvim or Hagiographa : in the
Polyglots and Rabbinical Bibles, and in separate books ;
as, Job, FraneJcer., 1663. Canticles, Basil., 1553.
Esther, Prague, 1601, &c. The Chaldee Paraphrase
on Chronicles was edited by Beck at Augsburg,
1680.
II. Literature. — Be OnJceloso ejusque Paraphrasi
Dissertatio , Georg . Benedict Winer. Lips., 4to., 1820.
Ben Zion Jehuda Berko witz, — Eteh Or : a Treatise on
the hermeneutical Rules of the Targum of Onkelos.
Wilna, 8 vo., 1843.
Isaiah Berlin, — Minee Targuma: a Glossary and
Commentation on the Targum of Onkelos.
INTRODUCTION.
.20
Geor. Ben. Winer, — Be Jonathans in Pentateuchum
Paraphrasi Chaldaicd. Erlangen, 1823.
J. H. Peterman n, — Be Buabus Pentateuchi Para -
phrasibus Clialdaicis . Berlin, 1829.
Walton's twelfth Prolegomenon to the Polyglot, and
the extensive disquisition of Wolf in the second volume
of his Bibliotheca Hebma . To those who read Arabic
it may be worth mentioning, that the Abbe Barges and
Dr. Goldberg have recently edited the epistolary treatise
of Rabbi Jehuda Ben Koreisch on the Utility of the
Study of the Targums : printed in Hebrew characters.
Paris : Duprat. This work contains a valuable glossary
of words and terms. In the latter department the
work of Phibel Ben David — an Exposition of difficult
Words in the Targums: Hanover, 1614 — also deserves
attention. The fifth chapter of the Gottesdienstlichen
Vortrdge der Juden of Dr. Zunz is a masterly exposi¬
tion ; and in an excursus in the work of Geiger, already
referred to, the TJrschrift und TJebersetzungen der Bib el,
there will be found an extensive collection of readings
from the Pentateuch Targums. In Schichard's Bechi -
nath lia-perusliim , and the Commentary of Rittangel on
the Sefer Jetsira , there are some curious researches,
which would reward a few hours' reading. And on the
important subject of the Memra, or Word of the Lord,
good collateral help is obtained in Jacob Bryant's
Treatise “ On the Sentiments of Philo Judaeus," Cam¬
bridge, 1797. I refer also with pleasure to the "In¬
quiry into the Doctrine of the Eternal Sonship of our
Lord Jesus Christ," by the late Rev. Richard Treffry ;
and to an excellent compendium by the Rev. F. Denham
in the “ Journal of Sacred Literature," for 1849.
As to the question whether the ancient Hebrew doc¬
tors identified the Memra or personal Word of God with
the Messiah, I may not speak with such confidence.
INTRODUCTION.
27
On the one hand there are passages in the Targums
which strongly imply that identity. Thus Onkelos, on
Num. xxiii. 21, reads, “The Memra of the Lord helpeth
them, and the Shekinah of their King is among them.”
The Jerusalem on the same passage has, “The Memra
of the Lord is with them, and a shout from the glory of
their King protecteth them ; ” and the so-called Jona¬
than Targum, “ The Memra of the Lord their God is a
helper to them, and the shout of the King Messiah is
heard among them.” (Compare also Onkelos on Judges
vi. 11, 13.) There is a text also in Jonathan on Isai.
xvi. 1, which brings to mind the saying of St. Ste¬
phen in Acts vii., “This is He who was with the
church in the wilderness.” “ They shall bring gifts to
the Messiah of the Israelites who shall be strong,
because He Himself was in the wilderness, the Bock of
the church of Zion.” On the other hand, they some¬
times make a distinction between the Memra and the
Messiah, which seems to forbid the idea of personal
identity. Thus, Jonathan on Isaiah xlii. 1 : “ Behold
My Servant the Messiah : I will draw nigh to Him ;
My Chosen, in whom My Memra hath delighted.”
But to the Messiah Himself, the Prince and Deli¬
verer of Israel and the Bedeemer of the world, the Tar¬
gums abound with solemn and affecting references. We
will offer a conspectus of the principal passages.
1. His Divine names. “ Said the prophet to the house
of David : Por to us a Son is born, to us a Son is
given : and He shall receive the Law upon Him to keep
it; and His name is called from of old. Wonderful,
Counsellor, Eloha the Mighty, Abiding to Eternity, the
Messiah, because peace shall be multiplied upon us in
His days.” (Isai. ix. 6.)
2. The Son of David. “And there shall go forth a
c 2
28
INTRODUCTION.
King from the sons of Jesse, and the Messiah shall be
anointed from his children's children." (Isai. xi. 1.)
Descended from Ruth. “ And he said. Bring the cover¬
ing that is over thee, and hold it ; and she held it ; and
he measured six measures of barley, and placed them
upon her. And strength to bear them came to her
from before the Lord : and forthwith it was spoken in
prophecy, that hereafter would proceed from her the six
righteous ones of the world, ( zedihey olma,) who should
each of them be destined to be blessed with six bless¬
ings : David, Daniel and his companions, and the King
Messiah." (Ruth iii. 15.)
3. The Brother of Man. "And in that time shall
the King Messiah ( Malka Mashicha ) be revealed to the
congregation of Israel. Then shall the children of
Israel say, Come, be Thou with us for a Brother." (Song
viii. 1.)
4. The Healer of the original wound . " And I will
put enmity between thee and the woman, and between
the seed of thy sons and the seed of her sons. And it
shall be when the sons of the woman shall keep the
commandments of the law, they will turn and smite thee
upon thy head ; but when they forsake the command¬
ments of the law, thou wilt turn thyself and wound them
in their heel. Nevertheless for them there shall be
medicine, but for thee no medicine : and they shall
make a remedy for the heel* in the days of the King
Messiah." (Gen. iii. 15.)
5. The Lord our Righteousness . "Behold, the days
come, saith the Lord, that I will raise up to David the
Messiah who is righteous, ( tsadikaya , righteousness,)
and He shall reign a King, and shall prosper, and exe-
3 Some translate, “They will be able in the days of the King
Messiah to make a bruise with the heel.” htn VDU) i* variously ren¬
dered in the lexicons, contritio, emplastrum , heilmittel.
INTRODUCTION.
29
cute the judgment of truth and justice in the earth. In
His days they who are of the house of Jehudah shall be
saved, and Israel shall dwell safely : and this is His
name by which they will invoke Him, Eighteousness
shall be wrought for us from before the Lord.” (Jer.
xxiii. 5.)
6. The Servant of God. “ Behold my Servant, the
Messiah. I will bring Him near, my chosen One, in
whom my Word taketh delight. I will put the Spirit
of Holiness upon Him ; my judgments to the nations
shall He reveal.” (Isai. xlii. I.)
7. The Restorer of Israel. “ The children of Israel
shall abide many days without a King of the house of
David, and without one who exerciseth dominion over
Israel, or who offereth the sacrifices of pleasantness in
Jerusalem, and without ephod or annunciation. After¬
ward shall the children of Israel return and seek the
service of the Lord their God, and be obedient to
Messiah, the Son of David their King : and He shall
teach them the worship of the Lord, and increase the
good that is to come to them at the end of the days.”
(Hosea iii. 4, 5.)
“ Their King shall arise from their children, and their
Redeemer from among themselves ; He shall be among
them and gather them.” (Num. xxiv. 7.)
“ The fourth night will be when the world shall arrive
at its end to be dissolved : the cords of the wicked shall
be consumed, and the iron yoke be broken. Moses
will come forth from the desert, and Messiah from the
high place . This is the Passover Night before the
Lord.” (Exod. xii. 42.)
“ What art thou to be reckoned, O mighty kingdom,
before Zerubbabel ? Is it not as a plain? Eor He
shall reveal His Messiah whose name is declared from
of old, and He shall rule over all kingdoms.” (Zech. iv. 7.)
30
INTRODUCTION.
“ Gog and Magog and their army will go up against
Jerusalem, but by the hand of the King Messiah they
shall fall.” (Num. xi. 26.)
“ I shall see Him, but not now ; I shall behold Him,
but not near, when there shall reign a mighty King of
the house of Jacob, and Messiah be anointed, and a
strong sceptre be from Israel. And He shall kill the
princes of the Moabites, and all the children of Sheth,
the army of Gog who will set the ranks of war in array
against Israel; and all their bodies will fall before Him.
. The first of the nations who waged war with Israel
was Amalek ; and their end in the days of the King
Messiah is to set in array the ranks of war, with all the
sons of the East, against the house of Israel ; but the
end of the one and the other is, that they shall perish
for ever. Ships will be sent forth with instruments of
war, and they shall go out with many burden-bearers
from the land of Italia, and join themselves with the
legions who go out from Constantine: . but the end
of both of them is to fall by the hand of the King
Messiah and perish for ever.” (Num. xxiv. 20.)
“ If any there be of your dispersed ones in the ends of
the heavens, from thence will the Word of the Lord
your God gather you by the hand, of Elijah the high
priest, and from thence will He bring you by the hands
of the King Messiah.” (Deut. xxx. 4.)
8. The King of Israel. “ Now these are the words of
the prophecy of David which he prophesied concerning
the end of the world, concerning the days of consolation
which are hereafter to come : David the Son of Jesse
said, . The God of Israel spake by me, the Mighty
One of Israel who ruleth among the sons of men, judg¬
ing truly, said that lie would set up to me a King who
is Messiah, that hereafter shall come and rule in the
fear of the Lord.” (2 Sam. xxiii. 1-3.)
INTRODUCTION.
31
“ Thou wilt prolong the days of the King Messiah, and
His years as the generations of the world, and the gene¬
rations of the world to come. He shall abide before
the Lord for ever . So will I glorify thy name when
I shall perform my vows in the day of the redemption
of Israel, and in the day that the King Messiah is
anointed to rule.” (Psalm lxi. 7-9.)
9. The Gatherer of the Nations , and the King of the
World. “ There shall not cease kings from the house of
Jehudah, nor scribes teaching the Law from his chil¬
dren's children, until the time when the King Messiah
shall come, whose is the kingdom, and to Him are all
the kingdoms of the earth to be subject. How beau¬
teous is the King Messiah who shall arise from the
house of Jehudah ! ” (Gen. xlix. 10.)
ee My heart produceth a good thing : I will speak of
the work of the King ; my tongue is like the pen of a
swift writer. Thy beauty, O King Messiah, is more than
that of the sons of men ; the spirit of prophecy is
ingiven to Thy lips, because the Lord hath blessed Thee
for ever . The throne of Thy glory, 0 God, ( Yeya ,)
shall stand for ever and ever; a sceptre of grace is the
sceptre of Thy kingdom. Because Thou hast loved jus¬
tice and hated wickedness, therefore the Lord Thy God
hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy
fellows.” (Psalm xlv. 1-8.)
Such, on the evidence of these venerable documents,
was the faith of Israel of olden ages in the majesty and
mediatorial glory of their Saviour and King ; and such,
though with various drawbacks and darkening influ¬
ences, is substantially the expectant faith of the pious in
Israel at the present time. Unhappily, however, too
many among the modern Jews have declined from the
hope of their fathers, and exchanged the heavenly light
INTRODUCTION.
32
of faith in the revealed promises of God for the ignis
fatuus of infidel rationalism, and the poor dreams of
secular aggrandizement with their Gentile neighbours.
Yet may we hope that this forlorn infidelity is not the
last reprobate condition of any of them; and most
ardently should we pray that the breath of God may
come upon them, to renew them to repentance. Tor
though the veil is indeed to this very day upon the
national heart, we read in the sure oracles of mercy that
when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken
away. Nor are there wanting among them many who
desire such a consummation more devoutly than we
ourselves do ; many, in whose prayerful bosoms live
those solemn presentiments and spirit-stirring vows
which find expression from year to year in their old
Litany of the Hosannas.
“ Por Thy sake, 0 our God, save us. Por Thy sake,
O our Creator, save us. Por Thy sake, O our
Redeemer, save us. Por Thy sake, O Thou who wilt
seek for us, save us.
“ Por the sake of Thy truth ; for the sake of Thy
covenant ; for the sake of Thy greatness and Thy glory ;
for the sake of Thy law, Thy institutions, and Thy
memorial ; for the sake of Thy mercy and goodness.
Thy unity and Thy honour, Thy kingdom. Thy strength,
and Thy glory ; for the sake of Thy holiness and the
sake of Thy praise ; O save Thy people.
“As the eyes of servants look up to the master for
help, so we come before Thee for protection, we look up
to Thee for succour; for the contenders have striven
with us, and we are trodden under foot. Save us, O
God our Saviour !
" O Everlasting, build in mercy. Save the founda¬
tion stone, even the chosen house, the threshing-floor of
Arnon, the hidden oracle. Mount Moriah, and the mount
INTRODUCTION.
33
where it shall be seen ; Thy glorious habitation in the
city where David dwelt, goodly Lebanon, the beautiful
clime, the joy of all the earth, the perfection of beauty,
the dwelling of righteousness, the tranquil habitation,
the tabernacle of peace; whither the tribes went up;
the precious corner-stone, resplendent Zion, the holy of
holies, paved with love. Thy glorious presence, for the
heap of sharp-pointed armour. Save us now.
“ The voice of him (Elijah) who bringeth glad tidings
and saith, Thy salvation will I confirm when He (the
Messiah) cometh. It is the voice of my beloved
coming :
“ And I will declare the glad tidings.
“ It is the voice of Him who cometh with myriads of
saints, standing on the Mount of Olives :
“ And I will declare the glad tidings.
“ It is the voice of Him (Messiah) when He cometh
at the sound of the great trumpet, when the mountain
will divide :
“ And I will declare the glad tidings.
“ It is the voice of my Beloved that knocketh, and
shineth forth from Seir, and the mountains of the East
shall divide :
“ And I will declare the glad tidings.
u It is the voice of Elijah proclaiming redemption,
and the Messiah coming with all His holy ones with
Him :
“ And I will declare the glad tidings.
“ It is the voice of the Bathkol thundering from Zion,
proclaiming freedom to the whole world :
“ And I will declare the glad tidings.
“ It is the voice of Salvation proclaiming the welcome
time of the earth's acknowledging the Oneness of His
Name :
“ And I will declare the glad tidings.
c 5
34
INTRODUCTION.
“ It is the voice of the Mighty One of heaven and
earth, exclaiming, Can a nation be born at once ?
“ And I will declare the glad tidings.
“ It is the voice proclaiming the time of redemption,
when the people shall see light, and it shall come to
pass at eventide there shall be light :
“ And I will declare the glad tidings.
“ It is the voice to make glad the Rose of Sharon ;
for they shall rise who sleep in Hebron :
“ And I will declare the glad tidings.
“It is the voice of the Man whose name is the
Branch :
“ And I will declare the glad tidings.
“It is the voice proclaiming, Arise from the dust,
awake, and sing, ye who dwell in the dust :
“ And I will declare the glad tidings.
“ It is the voice of granting salvation to His people
for ever, even to David, and to his children for ever¬
more.” — Order of the Hosanna Rahha.
“Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth
iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the rem¬
nant of His heritage ? He retaineth not His anger for
ever, because He delighteth in mercy. He will turn
again ; He will have compassion upon us ; He will
subdue our iniquities, and Thou wilt cast all their sins
into the depths of the sea. Thou wilt perform the
truth unto Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which
Thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.”
bt nto? yntf
THE TARGUM OF ONKELOS
ON
THE BOOK BERESHITH
OB
GENESIS.
SECTION I.
BERESHITH BARA ELOHIM.
I. In the first times3 the Lord created the heavens
and the earth. And the earth was waste and empty,
and darkness was upon4 the face of the abyss ; and a
wind from before the Lord blew upon the face of the
waters. And the Lord said. Let there be light ; and
there was light. And the Lord saw the light that it was
good. And the Lord distinguished between the light
and between the darkness. And the Lord called the
light the Day, and the darkness He called the Night.
And there was evening, and there was morning, Day
the Eirst.
And the Lord said, Let there be an expanse in the
midst of the waters, and let it distinguish between
waters and waters. And the Lord made the expanse,
and distinguished between the waters which were under
3 Be-kadmin, “ in antiquities.” This expression, when used, as here,
in the plural, is sometimes put for “eternity.” Compare Onkelos on
Deut. xxxiii. 27, JEloha de-milkadmin , “ the Eternal God,” or, “ God
who is from eternity,” with Jonathan on Micah v. 2, “Messiah,, .
whose name is called ( milkadmin ) from eternity.”
4 Some copies, “ Darkness was outspread upon the face,” &c.
36 TARGTJM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
the expanse, and between the waters which were above
the expanse : and it was so. And the Lord called the
expanse the Heavens. And it was evening, and it was
morning, the Second Day.
And the Lord said, The waters shall be collected
under the heavens into one region, and the dry land
shall appear. And it was so. And the Lord called the
dry land Earth, and the place of the collection of waters
He called Sea. And the Lord saw that it was good.
And the Lord said, The earth shall bring forth grass ;
the plant whose germ-seed5 is to be sown ; the fruit-tree
making fruit according to its kind, whose germ-seed* is
in it upon the earth ; — and it was so. And the earth
put forth grass ; the herb, whose germ-seed is sown after
its kind ; and the tree making fruit, whose seed is in it
after its kind. And the Lord saw that it was good.
And it was evening, and it was morning, Day the Third.
And the Lord said. There shall be Lights in the
expanse of heaven, to distinguish between the day and
the night ; and they shall be for signs and for times,
for the numbering of days and years. And they shall
be for luminaries in the expanse of heaven to shine
upon the earth ; — and it was so. And the Lord made
the two great luminaries : the greater luminary to rule
in the day;0 and the smaller luminary to rule in the
night, and the stars. And the Lord set them in the
expanse of heaven to shine upon the earth, and to rule
in the day and in the night, and to distinguish
between light and darkness. And the Lord saw that
it was good. And there was evening, and there was
morning, Day the Fourth.
And the Lord said, Let the waters generate7 the
5 Lit., “ Son-seed.”
* Samaritan Version, “ the plenitude of the greater light.”
7 “ Swarm with, produce abundantly.”
ON GENESIS.
37
I*]
moving creature (having) life ; and the fowl which
flieth over the earth on the face of the expanse of
heaven. And the Lord created the great taninia and
every living animal which moveth, which the waters
generated according to their kind, and every fowl which
flieth according to his kind ; and the Lord saw that it
was good. And the Lord blessed them, saying, Spread
abroad and become many, and fill the waters of the
seas ; and let the fowl become many on the earth. And
it was evening, and it was morning, Day the Lifth.
And the Lord said, Let the earth produce the living
animal after its kind, cattle, and reptile, and beast of
the earth, according to its kind ; — and it was so. And
the Lord made the beast of the earth after its kind, and
cattle after their kind, and every reptile of the earth
after its kind; and the Lord saw that it was good.
And the Lord said, Let ns make Man in Our image, as
Our likeness; and they shall have dominion over the
fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the heavens, and
over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every
reptile which moveth upon the earth. And the Lord
created8 the Adam in His image, in the image of the
Lord9 He created him ; male and female He created
them. And the Lord blessed them, and said to them.
Spread abroad, and become many, and fill the earth, and
be strong upon it ; and have dominion over the fish of
the sea, and over the fowl of the heavens, and over
every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And
the Lord said, Behold, I have given to you every plant
which seedetli germ-seed which is upon all the earth ;
and every tree in which is the fruit of the tree which
seedeth germ -seed ; unto you it shall be for food, and
unto every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of
8 Sam. Vers., " fashioned.”
9 Some copies, “ in the image of Elohim.”
38
TARGUM OF ONKELOS
[CHAP.
the heavens, and to every reptile upon the earth in
which is the breath of life, every green herb to eat ; and
it was so. And the Lord saw all that He had made,
and, behold, it was very steadfast. And it was evening,
and it was morning, Day the Sixth.
II. And the heavens and the earth and all their host
were completed. And the Lord finished in the Seventh
Day His work which He had wrought, and rested in the
Seventh Day from all His work which He had wrought.
And the Lord blessed the Seventh Day and made it
holy, because in it He rested from all His work which
the Lord had created to make. These are the
memorials1 of the heavens and the earth, when they
were created in the day when the Lord God made the
earth and the heavens. And all trees of the field were
not yet in the earth, and every herb of the field had not
yet sprung up, because the Lord God had not caused
rain to come upon the earth, and there was no man to
cultivate the ground. And a mist2 ascended from the
earth, and moistened all the face of the ground. And
the Lord God created Adam from dust of the ground,
and breathed upon his face the breath of lives, and it
became in Adam a Discoursing Spirit. And the Lord
God planted a garden in a region of pleasantness8 in the
time of the beginning, and He made to dwell there the
man whom He had created. And the Lord God caused
to grow from the earth every tree desirable to look upon,
and good for food, and the Tree of Life (Lives) in the
midst of the garden, and the Tree of whose fruit they
who eat know between good and evil. And a river
went forth from Eden to water the garden,4 and from
thence it was divided and became four heads of rivers 6
1 Toledath , “ recitals, history.” a Or, ** cloud.”
s Or, “ in Eden.” Distinguish between the region and the garden.
4 Sam. Vers., " Paradise.” 5 Sam. Vers., “ islands.”
ON GENESIS.
39
U.]
(or four chief rivers). The name of the first is Pishon,6
that which encompasseth all the land of Havilah, where
is gold ; and the gold of that land is good ; there is
bedalcha and burilla-stones. And the name of the
second river is Gichon,7 which encompasseth all the
land of Kush.8 And the name of the third river is
Digelath,9 which goeth to the east of Athur.1 And the
fourth river is Pherat. And the Lord God took Adam
and placed him in the garden of Eden to culture it and
keep it. And the Lord God commanded Adam, saying.
Of every tree of the garden eating thou mayest eat ; but
of the tree of whose fruit they who eat know between
good and evil thou shalt not eat ; for in the day that
thou eatest of it dying thou shalt die.2 And the Lord
God said, It is not right that Adam should be solitary ;
I will make for him a helper as for his sake (or, as
suited to him : Hebrew, kenegdo , as his counterpart).
And the Lord God created from the earth every beast
of the field and every fowl of the heavens, and brought
them to Adam to see what he would call him; and
every (name by) which Adam called the living animal,
that wras its name. And Adam called the name of all
cattle, and of the fowl of the heaven, and of every
beast of the field ; but to Adam was not found a
helper as for him. And the Lord God threw a sleep
upon Adam, and he slept ; and He took one of his
ribs, and filled with flesh in place thereof ; and the Lord
God builded the rib which He took from Adam into
Woman, and He brought her unto Adam. And Adam
said, This now (this time) is bone of my bone, and flesh
of my flesh : this shall be called Woman, because from
6 Sam. Vers., “ Phison-kadoph.” 7 Sam. Vers., “Askoph.”
8 Sam. Vers., “ Chophin.” 9 Sam. Vers., “ Kephlosah.”
1 Sam. Vers., “ Kingdom of Hatsphu.”
2 Sam. Vers., “ Consuming thou shalt be consumed.”
40 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
her husband this was taken. Therefore shall a man
forsake the couch ( beth mishkebf the sleeping-house) of
his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife,
and they shall be of one flesh. And they were both
naked, Adam and his wife, and were not ashamed.
III. And the serpent (cfrivja) was more crafty than
all the animals of the field which the Lord God had
made. And he said to the woman, Is it in truth (that)
the Lord said, You shall not eat of every tree of the
garden ? And the woman said to the serpent, Of the
fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat ; but of the
fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden,*
the Lord hath said. You shall not eat of it, nor
approach to it, lest you die.4 And the serpent said to
the woman, Not to die will you die : for it is manifest
before the Lord, that in the day in which you eat of it
your eyes will be opened, and you will be ( ki-rabrebin )
as the Great-ones, knowing good and evil. And the
woman saw that the tree was good to eat, and that it
was salutary to the eyes, and a tree desirable to con¬
template ; and she took of its fruitage ( aiba ) and ate ;
and she gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they
knew that they were naked ; and they sewed for them¬
selves the leaves of the fig-tree, and made for them¬
selves cinctures. And they heard the voice of the
Word of the Lord God walking in the garden in the
evening of the day ; 6 and Adam and his wife hid them¬
selves from before the Lord God among the trees of
the garden. And the Lord God called to Adam and
said to him, Where art thou ? And he said. The
voice of Thy Word heard I in the garden, and I was
3 Sam. Vers., ** Paradise.” 4 Sam. Vers., “ be consumed.”
6 Sam. Vers., “calling them in Paradise in the breathing of the
day.”
ON GENESIS.
41
111.]
afraid, because I (was) naked, and I would hide. And
He said, Who showed thee that thou wast naked ?
Of the tree of which I commanded that eating of it
thou shouldst not eat, hast thou eaten ? And Adam
said. The woman whom Thou gavest (to be) with me,
she gave to me of the tree, and I did eat. And the
Lord God said to the woman. What is this that thou
hast done ? And the woman said, The serpent led me
astray, and I did eat. And the Lord God said to the
serpent, Because thou hast done this, more accursed
art thou than all cattle, and than all the beasts of the
field ; upon thy belly slialt thou go, and the dust shalt
thou eat all the days of thy life. And I will put
enmity between thee and between the woman, and
between thy son and her son. He will remember thee,
what thou didst to him (at) from the beginning, and
thou shalt be observant unto him at the end.
And to the woman He said. Multiplying, I will
multiply thy sorrows and thy pains. In sorrow shalt
thou bring forth children ; and unto thy husband shall
be thy desire, and he shall rule over thee. And unto
Adam He said. Because thou hast obeyed the word of
thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree (about) which I
commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it,
accursed is the ground on thy account. With labour
shalt thou eat from it all the days of thy life. Thorns
and thistles it shall put forth for thee, and thou shalt
eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of thy face
shalt thou eat bread, until that thou return to the
earth, because from it thou wast created ; for dust thou
art, and to dust thou wilt return. And Adam called
the name of his wife Hava, because she was the mother
of all the children of men. And the Lord God made
for Adam and for his wife vestments of honour upon
the skin of their flesh, and clothed them. And the
42
TARGTJM OF ONKELOS
[chap.
Lord God said, Behold, man is become singular (or
alone/ yechid ) in the world by himself, knowing good
and evil ; and now, lest he stretch forth his hand and
take also of the Tree of Life, and eat, and live for ever ;
. and the Lord God sent him forth from the garden
of Eden to till the ground from whence he had been
created. And He drove out the man, and before the
garden of Eden he caused to dwell the kerubaya , and
the sharp sword which revolved to keep the way of the
Tree of Life.
IY. And Adam knew Hava his wife, and she con¬
ceived, and gave birth to Kain ; and she said, I have
acquired the man from before the Lord. And she
added to give birth to his brother, Habel. And Habel
was a shepherd of the flock, and Kain a man working
on the ground. And it was at the end (or comple¬
ment) of days, that Kain brought of the product of the
earth an oblation before the Lord ; and Habel he
brought also of the first-born of his sheep and of their
fatlings. And there was acceptableness before the
Lord in Habel and in his oblation ; but in Kain and
his oblation there was not acceptableness. And it was
greatly displeasing to Kain, and his countenance was
downcast. And the Lord said to Kain, Why art thou
displeased, and why is thy countenance downcast ? If
thou doest thy work well, is it not remitted to thee ?
and if thou doest not thy work well, thy sin unto the
day of judgment is reserved, when it will be exacted of
thee, if thou convert not : but if thou convert, it is
remitted to thee. And Kain spake with Habel his
brother ; and it was in their being in the field that
Kain arose against Habel his brother, and killed him.
And the Lord said to Kain, Where is Habel thy
brother ? And he said, I know not ; am I the keeper
c Sam. Vers., “ as a branch.”
ON GENESIS.
43
IV.]
of my brother ? And He said, What hast thou done ?
The voice of the blood of generations which were to
come from thy brother complaineth before Me from the
earth ! And now, accursed art thou from the earth,
which hath opened her mouth and received the blood
of thy brother from thy hand. When thou tillest the
earth, it shall not add to give its virtue to thee ; a casta¬
way and a wanderer shalt thou be in the earth. And
Kain said before the Lord, Greater is my guilt than
may be forgiven. Behold, Thou hast rejected me this
day from the face of the earth, and from Thy presence
it is not possible to hide ; and I shall be a castaway
and a wanderer in the earth, and any one who findeth
me will slay me. And the Lord said to him. There¬
fore any one who killeth Kain, — unto seven generations
it shall be exacted of him. And the Lord set unto
Kain a sign, lest any one who found him should kill
him. And Kain went out from before the Lord, and
dwelt in the land of the wanderer and outcast,7 which
was made for him in the beginnings in the garden of
Eden. And Kain knew his wife, and she conceived
and bare Hanoch, and he became the builder of a city,
and called the name of the city after the name of his
son Hanoch. And there was born to Hanoch Irad,
and Irad begat Mahujael ;8 and Mahujael begat Methu-
sael, and Methusael begat Lemek. And Lemek took
unto him two wives, the name of the one Ada, and the
name of the second Zillah. And Ada bare Javal ; he
was the master (rab) of all dwellers in tents and lords
of cattle. And the name of his brother was Juval. He
was the master9 of all who play upon the mouth of the
pipe, who know the song of the harp and of the organ.
And Zillah also, she bare Tuval-kain, the master of
7 Sam. Vers., “the Land of Keli.” 8 Sam. Vers., “Mihal.”
9 Sam. Vers., “ prince,” or “ chief.”
44
TAKGUM OF ONKELOS
[chap.
all them who understand the working of brass and
iron.1 And the sister of Tuval-kain was Naamah.*
And Lemek said to his wives Ada and Zillah, Hear my
voice, wives of Lemek, attend to my words : I have not
slain a man, that on his account I should bear the con¬
demnation of death ; or destroyed a young man, that on
his account my posterity should be consumed. If
seven generations are suspended unto Kain, will there
not be to Lemek his son seventy and seven ? And
Adam knew yet his wife, and she bare a son, and called
his name Sheth ; Because, said she, the Lord hath given
me another son instead of Habel, whom Kain slew.
And to Sheth also was born a son, and he called his
name Enosh. Then in his days the sous of men de¬
sisted (or forbore) from praying in the name of the Lord.
V. This is the book of the generations of Adam.
In the day that the Lord God created man, in the
resemblance of Elohim3 He made him ; male and female
He created them ; and He blessed them, and called their
name Man, in the day that they were created. And
Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begat in
his resemblance (one) who was like to himself, and he
called his name Sheth. And the days of Adam after
he had begotten Sheth 4 were eight hundred years, and
he begat sons and daughters. And all the days of
Adam which he lived were nine hundred and thirty
years, and he died.
And Sheth lived a hundred and five years, and begat
Enosh. And Sheth lived after he had begotton Enosh
eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and
daughters. And all the days of Sheth were nine
hundred and twelve years, and he died.
1 Sam. Vers., “who melt and conjoin.” 3 Sam. Vers., “Zalkipha.”
3 Sam. Vers., “of Angels.”
4 Sam. Vers., “ after he had begotten his substitute ” ( chalipha ).
ON GENESIS.
45
v.]
And Enosh lived ninety years, and begat Keinan.
And Enosh lived after he had begotten Keinan eight
hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters.
And all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five
years, and he died.
And Keinan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalalel.
And Keinan lived after he had begotten Mahalalel
eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and
daughters. And all the days of Keinan were nine
hundred and ten years, and he died.
And Mahalalel lived sixty and five years, and begat
Jered. And Mahalalel lived after he had begotten
Jered eight hundred, and thirty years, and begat sons
and daughters. And all the days of Mahalalel were
eight hundred and ninety and five years, and he died.
And Jered lived an hundred and sixty and two years,
and begat Hanok. And Jered lived after he had
begotten Hanok eight hundred years, and begat sons
and daughters. And all the days of Jared were nine
hundred and sixty and two years, and he died.
And Hanok lived sixty and five years, and begat
Methushelaeh. And Hanok walked in the fear of the
Lord,5 after he had begotten Methushelaeh, three hun¬
dred years, and begat sons and daughters. And all
the days of Hanok were three hundred and sixty and
five years. And Hanok walked in the fear of the
Lord ; and he was not ; for the Lord had not made
him to die*
And Methushelaeh lived an hundred and eighty and
seven years, and begat Lemek. And Methushelaeh
lived after he had begotten Lemek seven hundred and
eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters.
* Peshito Syriac : “ and Henok pleased God, after,” &c.
* Peshito, cf Aloha took him.” Samaritan Version, “the Angel
took him.”
46 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
And all the days of Methushelach were nine hundred
and sixty and nine years, and he died.
And Lemek lived a hundred and eighty and two
years, and begat a son. And he called his name
Noach, saying, This shall console us from the works
and from the labour of our hands from the earth which
the Lord hath cursed. And Lemek lived, after he had
begotten Noach, five hundred and ninety and five years,
and begat sons and daughters. And all the days of
Lemek were seven hundred and seventy and seven
years, and he died.
VI. And Noach was a son of five hundred years,
and Noach begat Shem, Cham, and Japheth. And
it was when the sons of men had begun to multiply
upon the earth, and daughters were born to them, that
the sons of the mighty 7 saw the daughters of men that
they were beautiful, and took to them wives of all
whom they pleased.8 And the Lord said, This evil
generation shall not stand before me for ever, because
they are flesh, and their works are evil. A term (or
length) will I give them, an hundred and twenty years,
if they may be converted. Giants were in the earth in
those days; and also when, after that the sons of the
mighty had gone in unto the daughters of men, there
were born from them giants who from of old were men
of name.
And the Lord saw that the wickedness of man had
multiplied in the earth, and that every formation (or
image) of the thought of his heart was only evil every
day. And it repented the Lord in His Word that
He had made men upon the earth. And He said, (in
His Word,)9 that He would break their strength accord¬
ing to His pleasure. And the Lord said, Man whom
7 Bnei rabrebaia. The Sam. Vers, reads, ** sons of the rulers.”
8 Other copies, “ that they chose.” 9^6ome copies omit this.
ON GENESIS.
47
VI.]
I have made will I blot out1 from the face of the
earth ; — from man to the beast, to the reptile, and to
the fowls of heaven ; because it repenteth Me in My
Word that I have made them. But Noach found
mercy before the Lord.
SECTION II.
ELEH TOLEDOTH NOACH.
These are the memorials of Noach. Noach was a
man righteous and perfect in his generation ; in the
fear of the Lord walked Noach. And Noach begat
three sons, Shem, Cham, and Yapeth. And the earth
was corrupted before the Lord; and the earth was filled
with violences.2 And the Lord saw the earth, and,
behold, it was corrupt, because all flesh had corrupted,
each one, his way upon the earth.
And the Lord said to Noach, The end of all flesh
cometh before Me, because the earth is filled with
violences from the face of their wicked works ; and,
behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make
thee an ark with the wood of cedar ; dwellings shalt
thou make in the ark, and overlay it within and without
with pitch. And thus shalt thou make it : three hun¬
dred cubits shall be the length of the ark, fifty cubits
its breadth, and thirty cubits its height. A light shalt
thou make to the ark, and at a cubit shalt thou com-
1 Some copies read, “ And He said, I have created (them) good, that
they might be perfect on the earth ; but they have not been perfect in
(their) outspreading ; and the Lord said, I will blot out,*5 &c.
2 Or, “rapines.” Sam. Vers., “oppressions.”
48 TARGITM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
plete it above, and the door of the ark thou shalt place
in its side. Lower dwellings, second and third, shalt
thou make in it. And I, behold, I do bring the deluge
of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is
the breath of life from under the heavens. Every
thing that is on the earth shall die. And I will estab¬
lish My covenant with thee ; and thou shalt enter into
the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and the wives
of thy sons with thee. And of all that liveth of all
flesh two and two of all that enter into the ark to abide
with thee, male and female shall they be. Of fowl
according to its kind, and of cattle according to her
kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after his
kind, two of all shall enter with thee to abide. And
thou, take with thee of all food which is eaten, and 1
gather to be with thee ; and it shall be for thee and for
them to eat. And Noach did according to all which
the Lord had commanded him, so did he.
VII. And the Lord said to Noach, Enter thou and all
the men of thy house into the ark ; for thee have I seen
righteous before Me in this generation. Of all clean
animals take thou seven and seven, male and female ;
and of animals not clean, two and two, male and
female. Also of the fowls of heaven, seven and seven,
male and female, to continue the seed upon the face of
all the earth. Because yet a time of seven days and I
will cause rain to descend upon the earth forty days and
forty nights, and I will blot out every subsistence 8 which
I have made upon all the face of the earth. And Noach
did according to all that the Lord had instructed him.
And Noach was a son of six hundred years ; and the
deluge 4 of waters was upon the earth. And Noach
entered, and his sons, and his wife, and the wives of his
sons with him, into the ark from before the water of the
3 Yekuma. * Tuphana.
ON GENESIS.
49
VII.]
deluge. Of animals clean, and of animals not clean,
and of birds, and of all which creepeth upon the earth,
two and two, they entered with Noach into the ark, male
and female, as the Lord had instructed Noach. And it
was at the time of seven days, and the waters of the
| deluge were upon the earth. In the six- hundredth year
jof the life of Noach, in the second month, in the seven¬
teenth day of the month, in that day were all the
springs of the great abyss upbroken, and the windows
of heaven opened, and the rain came down upon the
earth forty days and forty nights. In that very day
entered Noach, and Shem, Cham, and Yapheth, sons of
Noach, and the wife of Noach, and the three wives of his
sons with them, into the ark ; they, and every animal
after his kind, and all cattle after its kind, and every
reptile which creepeth upon the earth after its kind, and
every fowl after its kind, every bird, every one that
flieth: and they entered with Noach into the ark, two and
two of all flesh in which is the breath of life ; and they,
entering, male and female of all flesh, entered, as the
Lord had commanded him, and the Lord protected
them by His Word.5 And there was a deluge forty
days upon the earth, and the waters increased, and took
up the ark, and it was lifted up above the earth. And
the waters prevailed and increased mightily upon the
earth, and the ark went upon the faces of the waters.
And the waters prevailed most mightily over the earth,
and all the high hills were covered which were under
all the heavens. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters
prevail, and the mountains were covered; and all flesh
died which moved upon the earth, of fowl, and of cattle,
and of the wild beast, and of every reptile which
creepeth upon the earth, and every man. Everything in
5 Or, “ The Lord overshadowed them by His Word.” The Sama¬
ritan has, “ And the Lord sealed them over.”
D
50
TARGUM OF ONKELOS
[chap.
whose nostrils was the breath of the Spirit of life, of all
which was upon the dry ground, died. And every sub¬
sistence was blotted out that was upon the faces of the
earth, from man to the beast, to the reptile, and to the
fowl of heaven, it was blotted out from the earth, and
Noach was left alone, and they who were with him in
the ark. And the waters prevailed upon the earth an
hundred and fifty days.
VIII. And the Lord remembered Noach, and every
living thing, and all the cattle which were with him in
the ark ; and the Lord caused a wind to pass over the
earth, and the waters rested, and the springs of the
abyss were shut, and the windows of the heavens, and
the rain from the heavens was restrained, and the waters
turned from on the earth, going and returning ; and the
waters diminished from the end of a hundred and fifty
days. And the ark rested on the seventh month, on the
seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of
Kardu.6 And the waters went and diminished until the
tenth month : in the tenth, on the first of the month, the
heads of the mountains appeared. And it was at the
end of forty days, and Noach opened the windows of the
ark which he had made. And he sent forth a raven,
and going he went out, and returned until the waters
were dried upon the earth. And he sent forth a dove
from (being) with him, to see whether the waters
were lightened (or consumed) from the surface of the
earth. But the dove found no rest for the dividing of
her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark,
because the waters were upon all the earth ; and he
stretched forth his hand, and took her, and brought her
to be with him in the ark. And he prolonged7 yet
Y 6 Sam. Vers., Al teborah Samedib, " Upon the mountains Sarnedib.’* ■
The Peschito Syriac, “ Upon the mountains of Kardu ” (Armenia).
7 Veorik: the Samaritan text has, Vajichel , “And he expected ; ’* j
the Samaritan Version, Veamen, "And he bettered, or confided yet,” &c.
ON GENESIS.
51
VIII.]
seven days, and afterward added to send forth the dove
from the ark. And the dove came to him at the time
of evening, and, behold, a leaf of olive broken off wras
in her mouth ; and Noach knew that the waters were
lightened from upon the earth. And he prolonged yet
other seven days, and sent forth the dove, and she added
not to return to be with him again. And it was in the
six-hundredth and first year, in the beginning of the
first month, the waters were dried from off the earth ;
and Noach removed the covering of the ark, and looked,
and, behold, the faces of the ground were dry. And in
the second month, in the seventeenth day of the month,
the earth was fully dry.
And the Lord spake with Noach, saying : Go forth
from the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and the
wives of thy sons with thee* Every living thing which
is with thee of all flesh, of fowl, and of cattle, and every
creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, bring forth
with thee, and they shall generate in the earth, and
spread abroad and multiply upon the earth. And Noach
went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and the wives of
his sons with him ; every animal, every reptile and
bird, everything which moveth upon the earth after their
kind, went forth from the ark.
And Noach builded au altar before the Lord, and took
of every clean beast and of every clean bird, and uplifted
an offering upon the altar. And the Lord received with
approval his oblation ; and the Lord said in His Word,8
I will not add to curse again the earth on account of the
guilt of man, because the creations of the heart of man9
are evil from his infancy ; 1 and I will not add again to
smite every living thing as I have done. Yet all the days of
• " UDto (rozch) his mystery.” — Sam. Vers.
9 “ The secret of the heart of man.” — Ibid.
1 “ His smallness,” xeireia.
D 2
52 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
the earth, seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and
summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease.
IX. And the Lord blessed Noach and his sons, and
said to them. Spread abroad, and multiply, and fill the
earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall
be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl
of the heavens, in all which creepeth upon the earth, and
in all fish of the sea ; into your hands shall they be
delivered. Every moving thing that liveth, for you it
shall be to eat ; as the green herb I have given you the
whole. But the flesh with its life-blood you shall not
eat. And also your blood of your lives will I require,
from every beast will I require it, and from the hand of
man. From the hand of the man who sheddeth the
blood of his brother will I require the life of man.
Whoso sheddeth the blood of man, by witnesses, upon
the sentence of the judges, his blood shall be shed ;
because in the image of the Lord 2 made He man. And
you, spread abroad and multiply ; bring forth in the
earth and multiply therein.
And the Lord spake to Noach, and to his sons with
him, saying, And I, behold, I establish my covenant with
you and with your children after you, and with every liv¬
ing thing which is with you, of fowl, of cattle, and of every
beast of the field that is with you, of all going forth from
the ark of every animal of the earth. And I will establish
My covenant with you, and all flesh shall not again be
consumed by the waters of a deluge, nor shall there be
again a deluge to destroy the earth. And the Lord
said, This is the sign of the covenant which I appoint
(give) between My Word, and between you, and between
every living soul that is with you unto perpetual gene¬
rations. I have set My bow in the cloud, and it shall
be for a sign of the covenant between My Word and
3 Sam. Vers., “ of angels.”
ON GENESIS.
53
IX.]
between the earth. And it shall be that when clouding
I becloud the earth, the bow shall be seen in the cloud,
and I will remember the covenant which is between My
Word, and between you, and between every living soul
of all flesh ; and there shall not be again the waters of a
deluge to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in
the cloud, and I will look upon it, to remember the
everlasting covenant between the Word of the Lord and
between every living soul of all flesh that is upon the
earth. And the Lord said, This is the sign of the
covenant which I have established between My Word
and between all flesh which is upon the earth.
And the sons of Noach who went forth from the ark
were Shem and Cham and Yapheth : and Cham is the
father of Kenaan. These three are the sons of Noach,
and from them was the whole earth overspread. And
Noach began to be a man working on the earth ; 3 and
he planted a vineyard, and he drank of the wine,4 and
was drunk ; and he was uncovered in the midst of his
tent. And Cham the father of Kenaan saw the naked¬
ness of his father, and he showed to his two brethren
without. And Shem and Yapheth took a mantle, and
laid it upon the shoulders of both, and went backward,
and covered the nakedness of their father ; and their
faces were averted, and the nakedness of their father
they saw not. And Noach awoke from his wine, and
knew that which his youngest son had done unto him ;
and he said : —
Accursed be Kenaan,
A working servant shall he be to his brethren.
And he said : —
Blessed be the Lord4he God of Shem,
And Kenaan shall be servant unto them.
3 Sam., “ A man of husbandry.”
4 Chamra , “ red wine ; ” Heb., Hayayin ; Sam., Amrah.
54 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP. !
The Lord shall enlarge Yapheth,6
And he shall make his Shekinah to dwell in the j
tabernacles of Shem :
And Kenaan shall be servant unto them.
And Noach lived after the deluge three hundred and
fifty years. And all the days of Noach were nine hun- |
drcd and fifty years; and he died.
X. And these are the generations of the sons of i
Noach, Shem, Cham, and Yapheth ; and sons were born
to them after the deluge. The sons of Yepheth, Gomer,
and Magog, and Madai, and Yavan, and Thuval, and Me¬
sh ek, and Tiras. And the sons of Gomer, Ashkenaz, and
Rephath, andThogarmah. And the sous of Yavan, Elishah
and Tharshish, Kittim and Dodanim. From these were 1
the isles ( nagvath ) of the peoples divided in their lands,
each according to his language, according to their fami- ,
lies in their nations. And the sons of Cham, Kush, and
Mizraim, and Phut, and Kenaan. And the sons of
Kush, Seba, and Chavilah, and Sabetha, and Raamah, ■
and Sabtekah. And the sons of Raamah, Sheba and
Dedan. And Kush begat Nimrod : he began to be a
powerful man in the earth. He was a powerful man
before the Lord : therefore it is said. Like Nimrod
the man of might before the Lord. And the head
(beginning) of his kingdom was Bavel, and Erek, and
Akad, and Kalneh in the land of Bavel.® From that land
he went forth to Athura,7 and built Nineveh, and the city
of Rechov,8 and Ivalach,9 and Resell,1 between Nineveh
and Kalach, which was a great city. xVnd Mizraim
begat the Ludaee, and Anamaee, and Lehabaee,* and
Naphtuhaee, and Pathrusaee, and Kasluchaee, from
whom came forth the Pelishtaee and Kaputkaee.
5 Yaphti leia V Yepheth. Yapheth signifies “ enlargement.”
6 Sam. Vers., “ Zopha.” 7 “ Astun.” 8 “ Satkan.”
9 “Lakisa.” 1 “Aspa.” 2 “Enamim.”
ON GENESIS.
55
XI.]
And Kenaan begat Zidon bis firstborn, and Cheth, and
the Jebusaee, and Amoraee, and Girgashee, and Hivaaee,
and Arkaee, and Antasaee, and Arvadaee, and Zemaraee,
and Chamathaee : and afterwards the seed of the
Kenaanaee were scattered abroad. And the frontier of
Kenaan aah was from Zidon, coming to Gerar and to
Azza, coming unto Sedom, and Amorah, and Admah,
and Zeboim, unto Lasha. These are the sons of Cham,
according to their progenies, to their languages, in their
lands, in their peoples.
And of Shem was born : (also he is the father of all
the sons of Eber, and the brother of Yapheth the
Great:) the sons of Shem, Elim, and Asshur, and
Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram. And the sons of Aram,
Uz, and Chul, and Gether, and Mash. And Arphaxad
begat Shelach ; and Shelach begat Eber. And to Eber
were born two sons : the name of the one was Peleg :
because in his day the earth was divided. And the
name of his brother was Yoktan. And Yoktan begat
Almodad, and Shaleph, and Chatsarmaveth, and Yarech,
and Chadoram, and Uzal, and Dikelah, and Obal, and
Avimael, and Sheba, and Ophir, and Chavilah, and
Yobab : all these are the sons of Yoktan. And their
dwelling was from Mesha,3 coming to Sephar, an
eastern mountain. These are the sons of Shem,*
according to their progenies, according to their lan¬
guages, in their lands, in their peoples. These are the
progenies of the sons of Noach, by their generations, in
their peoples : and by them were the peoples outspread
in the earth after the deluge.
XI. And all the earth was of one language and
one speech. And it was in their migrations 5 at the
3 “Misbal.”— Sam.
4 Sam. Vers., “ This is the portion of the sons.”
5 Heb., “ their removal from the east.” Syriac, " It was while
they ascended from the east.”
56 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
beginning, that they found a plain in the land of
Babel, and dwelt there. — And they said, a man to his
companion, Come, let us cast bricks and bake them
in the fire. And they had brick for stone, and bitu¬
men for mortar. And they said, Come, let us build a
city, and a tower, the head of it coming to the pinnacle
of the heavens. And we will make to us a name, lest
we be dispersed upon the face of all the earth. And
the Lord was revealed to punish the work of the city
and the tower which the sons of men had builded.
And the Lord said. Behold, the people is one and the
language one with all of them : and this is what they
begin to do. And now nothing will be restrained from
them of what they imagine to do. Come, We will be
manifest, and will confuse their language there, that a
man shall not hear the language of his companion.
And the Lord dispersed them from thence upon the
face of all the earth, and they were restrained from
building the city. Therefore the name of it is called
Confusion,6 because the Lord there confused the tongue
of all the earth, and from thence the Lord dispersed
them upon the face of all the earth.
These are the generations of Sliem. Shem was a son
of a hundred years, and he begat Arphaxad, two years
after the deluge. And Shem lived after he had be¬
gotten Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons
and daughters. And Arphaxad lived thirty and five
years, and begat Shelach. And Arphaxad lived after
he had begotten Shelach four hundred and thirty years,
and begat sons and daughters.
And Shelach lived thirty years, and begat Eber.
And Shelach lived after he had begotten Eber four
hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.
And Eber lived thirty and four years, and begat
6 “ Babel.” Sam. Vera., “ Lilaq .”
ON GENESIS.
57
XI.]
Peleg. And Eber lived after he had begotten Peleg
four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and
daughters.
And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu. And
Peleg lived after he had begotten Reu two hundred and
nine years, and begat sons and daughters.
And Reu lived thirty and two years, and begat Serug.
And Reu lived after he had begotten Serug two
hundred and seven years, and begat sons and
daughters. And Serug lived thirty years, and begat
Nachor. And Serug lived after he had begotten
Nachor two hundred years, and begat sons- and
daughters.
And Nachor lived twenty and nine years, and begat
Terach. And Nachor lived after he had begotten Terach
a hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and
daughters.
And Terach lived seventy years, and begat Abram,
Nachor, and Haran. And these are the generations of
Terach. Terach begat Abram, Nachor, and Haran ;
and Haran begat Lot. And Haran died before Terach
his father in the land of his nativity, in Ura of the
Kasdaee. And Abram and Nachor took to them
wives : the name of the wife of Abram, Sara; and the
name of the wife of Nachor, Milcha, daughter of
Haran the father of Milcha and the father of Yiska.
And Sara was barren, she had no child. And Terach
took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, the son
of his son, and Sara his daughter-in-law, wife of Abram
his son, and went forth with them from Ura of the
Kasdaee to go to the land of Kenaan. And they came
to Charan, and dwelt there. And the days of Terach
were two hundred and five years, and Terach died in
Charan.
58
TARGUM OF ONKELOS
[chap.
SECTION III.
LECH LECHA.
XII. And the Lord said to Abram, Go thou away
from thy country, and from the house of thy father, to
the land which I will show thee. And I will make
thee to (be) a great people, and will bless thee, and
magnify thy name, and thou shalt be blessed. And I
will bless him who blesseth thee, and him who curseth
thee I will curse ; and through thee all the progenies
of the earth shall be blessed. And Abram went away,
according as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot
went with him. And Abram was a son of seventy and
five years in his forthgoing from Charan. And Abram
took Sara his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all
the possessions which they possessed, and the souls whom
they had made subject to the law in Charan, and went
forth to go into the land of Kenaan ; and they came
unto the land of Kenaan. And Abram traversed
through the land unto the place of Shekim 7 unto the
plain of Moreh ;8 and the Kena&nah was then in the land.
And the Lord revealed Himself unto Abram, and said,
To thy sons will I give this land. And he builded
there an altar before the Lord who had been revealed
to him. And he ascended from thence to the mountain
east of Beth El, and spread out his tabernacle, having
Beth El on the west and Ai on the east; and he builded
there an altar before the Lord, and prayed in the
name of the Lord. And Abram migrated, going and
migrating to the south.
7 Sam. Vers., “ unto the city of Shekam.
Sam. Vers., " the plain or valley of vision.”
ON GENESIS.
59
XIII.]
And there was a famine in the land, and Abram
went down to Mizraim, to sojourn there, because the
famine was strong in the land. And it was that as he
drew nigh to enter Mizraim he said to Sara his wife.
Behold, now I know that thou art a woman beautiful
in sight ; and it will be that when the Mizraee see thee
they will say, This is his wife ; and they will kill me,
and thee will they reserve. „ Say now, thou art my sis¬
ter, that it may be well with me through thee, and my
life may be preserved through thy words. And it was
that when Abram had entered into Mizraim, the Miz¬
raee saw the woman that she was singularly fair ; and
the princes of Pharaoh saw her, and extolled her to
Pharaoh ; and the woman was taken to the house of
Pharaoh. And Abram was well treated on account
of her. And he had sheep, and oxen, and asses, and
servants, and maidens, and camels. And the Lord
brought upon Pharaoh great plagues, and upon the
men of his house, for the affair of Sara the wife of
Abram. And Pharaoh called Abram and said, What
is this that thou hast done to me ? Why didst thou not
show me that she is thy wife ? Why saidst thou, She is
my sister, — so that I would have taken her to me to
wife ? And now, behold thy wife : take, and go. And
Pharaoh instructed the men concerning him, and they
conducted him away, and his wife, and all that he had.
XIII. And Abram went up from Mizraim, he and
his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, unto
the south. And Abram was exceeding strong in cattle,
in silver, and in gold ; and he proceeded according to
his encampments from the south, and unto Bethel, unto
the place where he had spread his tabernacle at the
first, between Bethel 9 and Ai ; to the place of the altar
9 Sam. Vers., “ between Beth-chaila and Kaphrah.1
60 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
which he had there made at the first : and Abram
prayed there in the Name of the Lord. And Lot also,
who went with Abram, had sheep and oxen and tents.
And the land could not support them, that they might
dwell together. And there was contention between the
shepherds of the flock of Abram and the shepherds of
the flock of Lot ; and the Kenaanah and the Pherizaah
then dwelt in the land. And Abram said to Lot, Let
there not now be contention between me and thee, and
between my shepherds and thy shepherds; for men,
brethren, are we. Is not all the land before thee?
Separate now from me : if thou to the north, I to the
south ; and if thou to the south, I to the north. And
Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of Yardena
that it was altogether a watered place, —before the
Lord had destroyed Sedom and Amorah, — as the gar¬
den of the Lord, as the land of Mizraim coming unto
Zoar. And Lot chose to him all the plain of Yardena ;
and Lot went forth before, and they were separated
each man from his brother. Abram dwelt in the land
of Kenaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain, and
extended unto Sedom. And the men of Sedom were
wicked in their riches, and guilty in their bodies before
the Lord greatly. And the Lord said to Abram, after
Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes
and see, from the place where thou art, thence to the
north and to the south, and to the east and to the
west ; for all this land that thou seest, to thee will I
give it, and to thy children for ever. And I will place
thy children numerous as the dust of the earth ; so that
as it is not possible for a man to number the dust of
the earth, so also thy sons shall not be numbered.
Arise, go through the land, in its length and in its
breadth; for unto thee will I give it. And Abram
spread (his tent), and came aud dwelt in the plain of
ON GENESIS.
XIV.]
61
Mamre which is near Hebron,1 and builded there an
altar before the Lord.
XI Y. And it was in the days of Amraphel, king of
Babel, Ariok, king of Elasar, Kedar-laomer, king of Elam,
and Thidal, king of peoples, (that) they made war with
Bera, king of Sedom, and with Birsha, king of Amora,
Shenab, king of Admah, Shemeber, king of Zeboim, and
the king of Bela, which is Zoar. All these were
assembled at the plain of the field, which is (now) the
place of the sea of salt. Twelve years they had served
Kedar-laomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
And in the fourteenth year came Kedar-laomer, and
the kings who were with him, and smote the giants who
were in Ashtaroth Karnaim, and the mighty who were
in Chemta, and the terrible ones who were in Shaveh
Kiryathaim, and the Horaee who were in the
mountain of Seir, unto the plain of Paran which lieth
upon the desert. And they turned, and came to the
plain of the division of judgment, which is Rekam, and
smote all the fields of the Amalkaah, and also the
Amoraah who dwelt in Ein-gadey.2 And the king of
Sedom, and the king of Amoraah, and the king of
Admah, and the king of Zeboim, and the king of Bela,
which is Zoar, went forth and set the battle in array
against them in the plain of the field, with Kedar-
laomer, king of Elam, and Thidal,3 king of peoples, and
Amraphel, king of Babel, and Ariok, king of Elasar ;
four kings against five. And the plain of the field had
many pits, from which they raised asphalta ; and the
kings of Sedom and Amorah fled, and they fell there ;
and they who remained fled to the mountain. And
1 Peschito Syr., “ And Abraham dwelt among the oak groves of
Mamre Amnroyo, which is by Hebron.”
a Sam. Vers., “ Haphinith.”
3 Sam. Vers., “ Thidal, king-shultan of the Chamai.”
62 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
they took all the possession of Sedom and Amorah, and
all their food, and went. And they captured Lot and his
substance, son of the brother of Abram, and went.
And he had dwelt in Sedom. And (one) came from
those escaped, and showed to Abram the Ivraah ; and he
had remained in the plain of Moreh Amoraah, the
brother of Eshkol and brother of Aner ; and they were
Abram's men of covenant. And Abram heard that his
brother had been captured ; and he armed the young
men born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and
pursued unto Dan. And he divided against them by
night, he and his servants, and smote them, and pursued
them unto Iloba,4 which was northward of Damasek.
And he recovered all the substance, and Lot also, the
son of his brother ; and his substance he recovered, the
women also, and the people. And the king of Sedom
came out to meet him after returning from the smiting
of Kedar-laomer and the kings who were with him, at
the plain of Mephana, which was the king's place of
racing. And Malki-zedek, king of Yerushelem,6 brought
forth bread and wine ( chemar ), and he was minister
(5 meshamesh ) before El Illaah,6 and he blessed him,
and said : —
“ Blessed be Abram before El IUaali,
Whose possession is heaven and earth ;
And blessed be El Illaah,7
Who hath delivered thine enemies into thine hand.”
And he gave him one in ten of the whole. And the
king of Sedom said to Abram, Give me the souls, and
the substance take thou. And Abram said to the king
of Sedom, I have uplifted my hands in prayer before
4 Sam. Vers., “ Phoga.” • Sam. Vers., Maleic Shalem.
6 Sam. Vers., “ And he was Kohen of the Most Mighty.”
7 Sam. Vers., "the Most Mighty, who, a shield, hath delivered,” &c.
ON GENESIS.
63
XV.]
the Lord God most high, whose possession is heaven
and earth : if from a thread unto the sole of a sandal I
take of all that is thine, (and not that thou shouldst
say, I have enriched Abram,) except of the food for the
young men, and the share of the men who went with me,
Amer, Eshkol, and Mamre, these will receive their shares.
XY. After these things the word ( pithgama ) of the
Lord came to Abram in prophecy,8 saying, Lear not,
Abram : My Word [Memra] shall be thy strength, and thy
exceeding great reward. And Abram said, Lord God,
what wilt Thou give me, and I go without a child : and
this son of business ( bar phargama ) who is in My house
is the Damasekah Elieser ? And Abram said, Behold,
Thou hast not given me a child, and, behold, the son of
my house is my heir. And, lo, the word {pithgama) of
the Lord was with him, saying, This shall not be thy
heir, but a son whom thou shalt beget will be thine
heir. And He led him without, and said, Behold now
the heavens, and number the stars, if thou art able to
number them ; and He said to him, So will be thy sons.9
And he believed in the Word of the Lord, ( Memra da
Yeya,) and He reckoned it to him unto justification.
And He said to him, I am the Lord, who brought thee
forth from Ura of the Kasdaee, to give thee this land to
“inherit it. And he said, Lord God, by what may I
know that I shall inherit it ? And He said to him.
Bring Me three calves, and three goats, and three rams,
and a turtle dove, and the young of a pigeon. And he
brought before Him all these. And he divided them
equally, and set the divisions a division against his
fellow ; but the birds he did not divide. And the fowl
descended upon the divisions, and Abram drave them
8 The Sam. has also benabia, “ in prophecy.”
* Sam. Vers., chalipik, “thy successors.”
64
TARGUM OP ONKELOS
[CHAP.
away. And it was sunset, and sleep fell upon Abram :
and, lo, a horror of great darkness fell upon him. And
He said unto Abram, Knowing thou shalt know that
thy sons will be sojourners (or aliens) in a land not
theirs, and they will serve among them ; and they will
afflict them four hundred years. And the people whom
they will serve I will judge, and afterwards they shall
go forth with much substance. And thou shalt be
gathered to thy fathers in peace, and shalt be buried 1 in
good old age. And in the fourth age (or generation) j
they will return hither ; because not (yet) complete is
the guilt of the Amoraah. And it was at the going
away of the sun, and there was darkness. And behold
a furnace that burned, and a flame of fire which passed
between those divisions. In that day the Lord com- j
pacted with Abram a covenant, saying. To thy sons will
I give this land ; from the river of Mizraim unto the
great river, the river of Pherat,8 the Shalmaee, and the
Kenizaee, and the Kadmonaee, and the Hittaee, and the
Pherizaee, and the Gibbaraee, and the Amoraee, and
the Kenaanaee, and the Girgashaee, and the Yebusaee.
XVI. And Sara wife of Abram had no child ; and
she had an handmaid, a Mizretha, and her name was
Hagar. And Sara said to Abram, Behold now, the
Lord hath restrained me from childbearing ; go in now •
to my handmaid, if, perhaps, I may have sons from her.
And Abram received the word of Sara. And Sara wife
of Abram took Hagar her handmaid, the Mizretha, at
the end of ten years of Abram's dwelling in the land of
Kenaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his
wife ; and he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived,
and she saw that she had conceived, and her mistress
was despised in her eyes. And Sara said to Abram,
1 Sam. Vers., “gathered.” 2 Sam. Vers., “the river of Shalmah.”
ON GENESIS.
65
XVI.]
I have (a cause of) judgment 8 against thee. I have given
mj handmaid to thee, and she seeth that she hath con¬
ceived, and I am despised in her eyes: the Lord judge
between me and thee. And Abram said to Sar^, Behold,
thy handmaid is in thy hand, do to her as is pleasing
in thine eyes : and Sara afflicted her, and she fled from
before her. And the Angel of the Lord found her
at the fountain of water in the wilderness, at the
fountain in the way of Hagra. And he said, Hagar,
handmaid of Sara, whence comest thou, and whither
art thou going ? And she said, From before Sara my
mistress do I escape. And the Angel of the Lord
said to her, Beturn to thy mistress and be subject4
under her hand. And the Angel of the Lord said to
her: Multiplying I will multiply thy sons, and they
shall not be numbered for multitude. And the Angel
of the Lord said to her, Behold, thou hast conceived,
and shalt give birth to a son, and thou shalt call his
name Yishmael, because the Lord hath heard thy
prayer. And he will be untameable by man, and he
will be needy to every one, and also all men will be
needy to him, and before the face of all his brethren
will he dwell. And she prayed in the Name of the
Lord who had spoken with her ; and she said : Thou
art Eloha, seeing all :5 for she said, I also have begun to
see after that He hath been revealed to me. Therefore she
called the name of the well, The well at which appeared
the Angel of the Covenant : behold, it is between Bekam
and Hagra. And Hagar bare to Abram a son, and
Abram called the name of his son whom Hagar bare
Yishmael. And Abram was son of eighty and six years
when Hagar bare Yishmael unto Abram.
3 Sam. Vers., “ oppression.” 4 Sam. Vers., “ humble thyself.”
s Sam. Vers., Ath chiulak chezuah , “ Thou the Mighty seest.” The
Syriac has, " Thou art Aloha in vision.”
G6 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
XVII. And Abram was son of ninety and nine years :
and the Lord was revealed to Abram, and said to him,
I am El-shadai ; 6 serve before Me, and be perfect ; 7
and I will set a covenant between My Word and thee,
and I will multiply thee exceedingly much. And Abram
fell on his face : and the Lord spake with him, saying.
Behold, I have dedicated My covenant with thee, and
thou shalt be the father of many peoples, and thy name
shall no more be called Abram; but thy name shall be
Abraham, because the father of many peoples have I
appointed (given) thee. And I will spread thee abroad
very greatly, and I will appoint to thee that assemblies
and kings, who shall rule the peoples, from thee shall
come forth. And I will establish My covenant between
My Word and thee, and thy sons after thee unto
perpetual generations, to be unto thee a God, and to
thy sons after thee. And I will give to thee and to
thy sons after thee the land of thy habitation, all the
land of Ivenaan, for an everlasting possession ; and I
will be unto them Eloha. And the Lord said to
Abraham, And thou My covenant shalt keep, thou and
thy sons after thee in their generations. This is My
covenant which you shall keep between My Word and
you and thy sons after thee, to circumcise every male
that is among you. And you shall circumcise the flesh
of your foreskin, and it shall be for the sign of the
covenant between My Word and you. And the son of
eight days shall be circumcised among you ; every male
in your generations, born in the house, or bought with
money, of every son of the peoples, who is not of thy
sons, circumcising you shall circumcise the one born in
the house, and him bought with money ; and it shall
8 Sam. Vers., Anah Chiulah Sapukah , “I am the Mighty, the
Sufficient.” Syr., El Shadai Aloha.
7 S/telim.
ON GENESIS.
67
XVII.]
be My covenant in your flesh for a covenant for ever.
And the male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his
foreskin, that man shall perish from the people (because)
he hath made void My covenant.
And the Lord said to Abraham, The name of Sara thy
wife shall not be called Sara, for Sarah shall be her
name : and I will bless her, and I will also give thee a
son from her ; and I will bless her, and assemblies and
kings which have dominion over peoples from her shall
be. And Abraham fell upon his face and rejoiced, and
said in his heart, Will the son of a hundred years
have a child, and Sarah the daughter of ninety years
bring forth ? And Abraham said before the Lord, O
that Yislimael may be established before thee ! And the
Lord said. In verity Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a
son, and thou shalt call his name Izhak ; and I will
establish My covenant with him for an everlasting
covenant to his sons after him. And concerning
Yishmael I have accepted thy prayer. Behold, I have
blessed him, and I will spread him abroad very greatly.
Twelve princes will he beget, and I will set him (as) a
great people. But My covenant I will establish with
Izhak, whom Sarah shall bear to thee, at this time, in the
year following. And when He had ended to speak with
him, the Glory of the Lord 8 ascended up from Abraham.
And Abraham took Yishmael his son, and every one
born in his house, and every one bought with his money,
every male, the men of the house of Abraham, and
circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in that very same
day when the Lord had spoken with him. And
Abraham was son of ninety and nine years, when he
circumcised the flesh of his foreskin. And Yishmael
his son was son of thirteen years, when the flesh of
his foreskin was circumcised. In that same day
8 Sam. Vers., “the Angel of the Lord.”
68
TARGUM OF ONKELOS
[CHAP.
Abraham was circumcised, and Yishmael his son, and all
the men of his house, (whether) born in his house,
or bought with money from the sons of the Gentiles,
were circumcised with him.
SECTION IV.
VAIYERA.
XVIII. And the Lord was revealed to him in the
Vale of Mamre; and he sat in the door of the tent
while the day was hot. And he lifted up his eyes and
looked, and, behold, three men stood towards him ; and
he saw, and ran from the door of the tent to meet them,
and worshipped upon the earth. And he said. Lord,
if now I have found favour in Thine eyes, pass not, I
pray, from Thy servant. Accept now a little water, and
wash your feet, and recline under the tree, and take a
mouthful of bread, and strengthen your hearts, after¬
ward you shall pass on ; because for this you have come
over unto your servant. And He said, So do as thou
hast spoken. And Abraham hastened to the tent to
Sarah, and said. Make haste with three seyin of the
flour of meal, mix and make cakes. And to the herd
ran Abraham, and took a calf, tender and good, and
gave to a young man, and he hastened to dress him.
And he took butter and milk, and the calf which he
had prepared, and set before them, and he waited upon
them under the tree, and they ate. And He said to
him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said. Behold,
in the tent. And He said, Returning I will return to
thee, according to the time that you shall revive, and,
behold, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah
XVIII.] ON GENESIS. 69
heard in the door of the tent, and it was behind Him.
And Abraham and Sarah were old and advanced in
days, and with Sarah had ceased to be the way of
women. And Sarah laughed within herself, saying,
After that I am old shall I have a child, and my lord
(being also) old? And the Lord said to Abraham,
Wherefore laughed Sarah, saying, Can it be in truth
that I shall bring forth, and I being old ? What word
is hidden from before the Lord ? At the time I will
return to thee, according to the time that you shall
revive, and Sarah shall have a son. And Sarah denied,
saying, I laughed not : for she was afraid. And He
said, No, but thou didst laugh . And the men arose
thence, and looked towards the face of Sedom ; and
Abraham went with them to accompany them. And
the Lord said, Shall I conceal from Abraham what I
am doing ? And Abraham shall be indeed a people
many and strong, and in him shall all the peoples of
the earth be blessed ; because it is manifest before me
that he will instruct his children, and the men of his
house after him, to keep the ways which are right before
the Lord, to do righteousness and judgment ; that the
Lord may bring upon Abraham that which He hath
spoken concerning him. And the Lord said, The
cry9 of Sedom and Amorah [is heard before Me] be¬
cause it is great, and the guilt of them is very mighty :
I will now see, and will judge, whether they do accord¬
ing to the report of them which hath ascended before
me. I will deal with them thoroughly unless they
convert ; but if they convert, I will not punish. And
the men turned away from thence, and went toward
Sedom. And Abraham yet ministered in prayer before
the Lord. And Abraham approached, and said, Wilt
Thou, in anger, destroy the righteous with the guilty ?
9 Kebelath.
70 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
If perhaps there be fifty righteous within the city, wilt
Thou in anger destroy and not forgive the place for the
fifty righteous who are within it ? More true are Thy
judgments than that Thou shouldst do a thing like that,
to destroy the just with the guilty, and that the just
should be as the guilty ! Thy judgments are true !
Can the Judge of all the earth but do justice ? And
the Lord said, If I find in Sedom fifty righteous in the
midst of the city, I will spare all the place for their
sake.1 And Abraham answered and said, Behold, I
have done a great thing, to speak before the Lord, and
I dust and ashes ! Perhaps of the fifty righteous there
may be wanting five : shall all the city perish through
five ? And He said, I will not destroy, if I find there
forty and five. And he added yet to speak before Him,
and said. Perhaps forty may be found there. And He
said, I will not make the end on account of the forty.
And he said, Let not the anger of the Lord now kindle,
and I will speak. Perhaps thirty shall be found there.
And He said, I will not make the end if I find there
thirty. And he said, Behold, I have done a great thing
to speak before the Lord : perhaps twenty shall be found
there. And He said, I will not destroy for the sake of
twenty. And he said. Let not now the anger of the
Lord kindle, and I will speak only this time : perhaps
ten may be found there. And He said, I will not
destroy for the sake of the ten ! And the Glory of the
Lord ascended when He had ceased to speak with
Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
XIX. And two angels entered into Sedom in the
evening ; and Lot sat in the gate of Sedom. And Lot
saw, and arose to present himself before them, and he
bowed with his face to the earth. And he said, I pray
my lords (ribboni) to turn aside unto the house of your
1 Sam. Vers., “ I will tolerate all the place.”
ON GENESIS.
71
XIX.]
servant and lodge, and wash your feet ; and rising early
you shall go on your way. And they said, Not so, but
in the wide place will we lodge. And he was greatly
in earnest with them, and they turned aside with him,
and entered into his house : and he made them a supper,
and dressed unleavened cakes for them, and they ate.
As yet they had not slept ; and the men of the city,
the men of Sedom, gathered against the house, from the
youth unto the old man, all the people from the ex¬
tremes ; and they cried to Lot, and said to him, Where
are the men who came to thee to-night ? Bring them
forth to us, and we will know them. And Lot went
out to them to the gate, and the door he shut after him.
And he said, I pray you, my brethren, do not (so)
wickedly. Behold, now, I have two daughters, who have
not known man, I would bring them to you, and you
should do to them what pleases in your eyes ; only to
these men do nothing, because they have entered under
the shadow of my dwelling.2 And they said, Go in,
however ! And they said, One came to sojourn, and,
behold, he judgeth judgment ! Now will we do worse
to thee than to them ; and they prevailed against the
man, against Lot, greatly, and came nigh to shatter the
door. And the men put forth their hands, and brought
in Lot to be with them in the house, and shut the
door. And the men who were at the gate of the house
they smote with blindness,3 from the little to the great,
and they were wearied to find the gate. And the men
said to Lot, Whomsoever thou hast yet here, thy son-
in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and all that
thou hast in the city, lead out from the place : for we
will destroy this place, because their cry is great before
a “Under the shadow of my family.” — Sam. Vera.
3 Or, “ with dizziness of the eyes.” Shabriria, which Castel defines,
“ Scotomata , subitoe oculorum tenebrce cum vertigines
72 TAUGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
the Lord, and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it. And
Lot went forth, and spake with his sons-in-law, the
takers of his daughters, and said, Arise, come forth from
this place ; for the Lord will destroy the city. And he
was as a trifler in the eyes of his sons-in-law. And it
was as the morning rose that the angels were urgent
upon Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife and thy two
daughters who are found faithful with thee, lest thou be
smitten with the punishment of the city. But he
delayed ; and the men laid hold of his hands, and of the
hand of his wife, and of the hand of his two daughters ;
for the Lord had mercy upon him ; and they brought
him forth, and set him without the city. And it was,
when he had brought them without, he said, Be merciful
on thy life, look not behind thee, and stand not in all
the plain, escape to the mountain for deliverance, lest
thou perish. And Lot said to them, Be entreated, O
Lord ; behold now, Thy servant hath found mercy before
Thee, and Thou hast magnified Thy goodness which
Thou hast shown me in saving my life, and I cannot
take refuge in the mountain, lest evil befall me, and I
die. Behold now, this city is nigh, to flee there ; and
it is (but) small ; let me now escape thither. Is it not
small ? and my life shall be sustained. And He said
to him. Behold, I have accepted thee 4 in this thing
also, in that I will not overthrow the city for which
thou hast prayed. Haste, escape thither ; for I cannot
do anything until thou be come thither. Therefore he
called the name of the city Zoar.5 The sun had come
forth upon the earth, and Lot entered Zoar. And the
Lord rained upon Sedom and upon Amorah sulphur and
fire from before the Lord from the heavens, and destroyed
those cities and all the plain, and all the dwellers in the
cities and the herbage of the earth. And his wife
4 “ Accepted thy face.” * Little.
ON GENESIS.
73
XIX.]
looked behind her, and she became a statue of salt.
And Abraham ascended in the morning 6 to the place
where he had ministered in prayer before the Lord ; and
he looked toward Sedom and Amorah, and upon all the
place of the plain land, and saw, and, behold, the smoke
of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace. And it
was when the Lord destroyed the cities of the plain,
that the Lord remembered Abraham, and sent Lot from
the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the
cities in which Lot dwelt. And Lot went up from
Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters
with him : for he feared to dwell in Zoar ; and he dwelt
in a cavern, he and his two daughters. And the elder
said to the younger, Our father is aged, and there is no
man in the earth to go in unto us according to the way
of all the earth. Come, we will pour father wine, and
will lie with him, and raise up sons 7 from our father.
And they poured their father wine in that night ; and
the elder went in and lay with her father ; and he knew
not, in her lying down nor in her rising up. And it
was in the day which followed that the elder said to
the younger. Behold, I lay yesterday with the father :
let us give wine also in the night, and go thou in, lie
with him, and we will raise up sons from our father.
And they gave that night also wine to their father, and
the younger arose and lay with him ; and he knew not,
in her lying down nor in her rising up. And the two
daughters of Lot conceived from their father ; and the
elder brought forth a son, and called his name Moab :
he is the father of the Moabaee unto this day. And
the younger also brought forth a son, and she called his
name Bar Ammi : he is the father of the B'ni Ammon
unto this day.
8 Sam. Vers., beshelu shoJcer, “ in the stillness of the morning.”
7 Sam. Vers., “ and we shall live in the sons of our father.”
E
74 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.'
XX. And Abraham migrated from thence to the
southern land, and dwelt between Eekam and Ha-
gra ; 8 and he sojourned in Gerar.9 And Abraham said
of Sarah his wife, She is my sister. And Abimelek,
king of Gerar,1 sent and took Sarah. And the word
came from the presence of the Lord to Abimelek in a
dream of the night, and said to him. Behold, thou
diest, on account of the woman whom thou hast taken,
and she a mau's wife. But Abimelek had not come
nigh her. And he said, Lord, wilt Thou also kill the
innocent people ? Did he not say to me, She is my
sister ? And she also said, He is my brother. In the
rectitude of my heart, and the cleanness of my hands,
have I done this. And the Lord said to him in a
dream. It is also manifest to Me that in the integrity
of thy heart thou hast done this, and I have also
restrained thee from sinning before Me;2 therefore I
have not permitted thee to approach to her. And now
return the man's wife ; for he is a prophet, and he will
pray for thee, and thou shalt live. But if thou wilt
not return (her), know that dying thou shalt die,3 thou,
and ail who are thine. And Abimelek arose in the
morning, and called all his servants, and spake all these
words before them ; and the men feared greatly. And
Abimelek called Abraham, and said to him, What hast
thou done to us, and in what have I sinned against
thee, that thou shouldst have brought upon me and
upon my kingdom a great sin?4 Works which are
not worthy to be done hast thou done with me. And
Abimelek said to Abraham, What sawest thou, that
8 Heb., “between Kadesb and Shur.” 9 Sam. Vers., “ Askelon.”
1 Sam. Vers., “ Shultan of Askelon.”
9 Sam. Vers., “ from becoming unclean before Me.”
8 Sam. Vers., "perishing thou shalt perish.”
4 Sam. Vers., “a great pollution.”
ON GENESIS.
75
XXI.]
thou didst this thing? And Abraham spake, Because
I said, Perhaps the fear of the Lord is not in this place,
and they will kill me on account of my wife. Never¬
theless, in truth she is my sister, the daughter of my
father, but not the daughter of my mother ; and she
became my wife. And it was, when the people erred
after the works of their hands, the Lord did bring me
near to the fear of Himself, from (among) the house s of
my father. And I said to her, This is thy favour which
thou canst do for me ; in every place through which we
pass, say of me, He is my brother. And Abimelek
took sheep, and oxen, and servants, and handmaidens,
and gave to Abraham, and returned to him Sarah his
wife. And Abimelek said, Behold, my land is before
thee : where it is pleasant in thine eyes, dwell. And to
Sarah he said, Behold, I have given a thousand seleen
of silver to thy brother ; behold, that is to thee a veil 6 of
honour, for my having sent to take thee, and to see
thee, and all that is with thee; and concerning all
whatever thou hast spoken thou art reproved. And
Abraham prayed before the Lord, and the Lord healed
Abimelek, and his wife, and his handmaids, and they
were revived : for the Lord had shut all the wombs of
the house of Abimelek, on account of Sarah, the wife
of Abraham.
XXI. And the Lord remembered Sarah as He had
said ; and the Lord did unto Sarah according as He had
spoken. And Sarah conceived and bare unto Abraham
a son in his old age, in the time of which the Lord had
told him. And Abraham called the name of his son
who was bom to him, whom Sarah bare to him, Izhak.
And Abraham circumcised Izhak his son (when) the son
of eight days, as the Lord had commanded him. And
6 Or, “ covering of the eyes.”
E 2
5 Sam. Vers., “tabernacle.3
76 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
Abraham was the son of a hundred years when Izhak
his son was born to him. And Sarah said, The Lord
hath made me to have gladness ; every one who heareth
will give me joy. And she said, Faithful is He who
spake unto Abraham, and certified that Sarah should
suckle children ; for she hath born a son in his old age.
And the child grew, and was weaned ; and Abraham
made a great feast in the day when Izhak wTas
weaned.7 And Sarah observed the son of Hagar the
Mizritha, whom she bare to Abraham, deriding. And
she said, Cast out this handmaid and her son ; for the
son of the handmaid shall not inherit with my son, with
Izhak. And the word was evil exceedingly in the eyes
of Abraham, on account of his son. And the Lord
said to Abraham, Let it not be evil in thine eyes con¬
cerning the youth and concerning thine handmaid. All
that Sarah saith to thee receive from her, because in
Izhak shall thy sons be called to thee. And also the
son of the handmaid will I set for a people, because he
is thy son. And Abraham rose up in the morning, and
took bread and a skin of w7ater, and gave to Hagar,
setting upon her shoulder, and the youth,8 and dis¬
missed her. And she went, and wandered in the desert
of the well of Shava (Beara de Shava). And the water
was finished from the skin ; and she laid the youth
under one of the trees, and went and sat over against,
as far off as a bow flight : for she said, I cannot see
the death of the child . And she sat over against, and
lifted up her voice and wept. And the voice of the
youth was heard before the Lord ; and the Angel of the
Lord called to Hagar from the heavens, and said to her,
What to thee, Hagar ? Fear not, for the voice of the
youth is heard before the Lord in the place where he is.
7 Sam. Vers., “ in the day of the (pelututh) liberation of his son.”
8 Rabia , “ a growing child.”
ON GENESIS.
77
XXI.]
Arise, take up the youth and strengthen thine hand in
him,1 because for a great people have I appointed him.
And the Lord opened2 her eyes, and she saw the well of
waters, and went and filled the skin with water, and
gave the youth to drink. And the Word of the Lord
was the Helper of the youth, and he grew and dwelt
in the wilderness, and became a master of the bow.
And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran, and his
mother took for him a wife from the land of Mizraim.
And it was in that time that Abimelek and Phikol,
chief of his host, spake to Abraham, saying, The Word
of the Lord is thy Helper in everything thou doest ;
and now swear to me here, by the Word of the Lord,
that thou wilt not be false with me, nor with my son,
nor with my son's son ; and that according to the
good which I have done to thee thou wilt do with me
and with the land in which thou art a sojourner. And
Abraham said, I will swear. And Abraham reproved
Abimelek, on account of the well of waters which the
servants of Abimelek had taken by force.3 And
Abimelek said, I knew not if this thing had been done,
and thou also hadst not shown me, nor have I heard, but
this day. And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave
to Abimelek, and they struck both of them a covenant.
And Abraham made seven lambs stand apart ; and
Abimelek said to Abraham, What are these seven lambs
which thou hast made to stand apart ? And he said.
That thou mayest take the seven lambs from my hand,
to testify for me that I have digged that well. There¬
fore he called that place Beer Shava, because there they
sware together. And they struck a covenant at Beer
1 Or, “on him;” “ hold him firmly.” So the Latin, Apprehende manu
tud eum. The Samaritan Version ha9, “ Take the youth, and fortify thy
hand in him.”
1 Or, “ illuminated.” 3 Sam. Vers., “ had taken fraudulently.”
78 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
Sliava. And Abimelek and Phikol,4 the chief of his
host, arose, and returned to the land of the Phelishtaee.
And he planted a tree5 in Beer Sliava, and prayed there
in the name of the Lord, the Most High God.6 And
Abraham sojourned in the land of the Phelishtaee many
days.
XXII. And it was after these things that the Lord
tempted Abraham ; and He said to him, Abraham !
And he said. Behold, I am. And He said. Take now
thy son, thy only, whom thou lovest, Izhak, and go into
the land of worship,7 and offer him before Me there, a
burnt offering, upon one of the mountains which I will
tell thee. And Abraham arose in the morning, and
saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with
him, and Izhak his son, and clave the wood for the
burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which
the Lord had spoken to him. And in the third day
Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place from afar.
And Abraham said to his young men, Wait you here
with the ass, and I and the young man will ascend
yonder and worship, and return to you. And Abraham
took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid on Izhak
his son ; and he took in his hand the fire and the knife,
and they went both of them as one. And Izhak spake
to Abraham his father, and said, Pather ! And he said,
Behold, I am, my son. And he said, Behold the fire
and the wood ; but where is the lamb for the burnt
offering ? And Abraham said, The lamb for the burnt
offering is revealed before the Lord, my son. And they
went, both of them, as one. And they came to the
place of which the Lord had told him. And Abraham
4 Sam. Vers., “ Pumkol,” a name with the same meaning as the
Hebrew form.
5 Sam. Vers., “a paradise.”
6 Sam. Vers., “ the Mighty, the Most High.”
7 Sam. Vers., “ vision.”
XXII.] ON GENESIS. 79
builded there the altar, and set in order the woods, and
bound Izhak his son, and laid him upon the altar above
the woods. And Abraham stretched forth his hand and
took the knife to cut off his son. And the Angel of
the Lord called to him from the heavens, and said,
Abraham, Abraham ! And he said, Behold, I am.
And he said to him, Stretch not out thy hand upon the
youth, neither do any thing to him : for now I know that
thou fearest the Lord, and that thou hast not spared
thy only son8 for Me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes
after these (words), and saw, and behold, one ram,
holden in the bush by his horns. And Abraham went
and took the ram, and offered him for a burnt offering
instead of his son. And Abraham worshipped and
prayed there in that place, and said before the Lord,
Here shall generations worship : wherefore it shall be
said in that day. In this mountain Abraham worshipped
before the Lord.9 And the Angel of the Lord called to
Abraham the second time from the heavens, and said,
By my Word have I sworn, saith the Lord, because thou
hast done this thing, and hast not spared thy only son,
therefore, blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I
will multiply thy sons as the stars of heaven and as the
sand which is on the sea shore ; and thy sons shall
inherit the cities of their enemies. And all the peoples
of the earth shall be blessed through thy son : forasmuch
as thou hast received My word. And Abraham
returned to his young men, and they arose and went
together unto Beer Shava, and Abraham dwelt in
Beer Shava.
And it was after these things it was shown to
Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcha, also, hath born sons
to Nachor,#thy brother : Uts his first-born, and Booz
0 Sam. Vers., “ the son of thy heart.”
9 Sam. Vers., “ In the mountain the Lord will see, will multiply.”
80
TARGUM OF ONKELOS
[CHAP.
his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram, and Kesed,
and Chazu, and Phildash, and Yedlaph, and Bethuel.
And Bethuel begat Revekah. These eight bare Milcha
to Nahor, brother of Abraham. And his concubine,
whose name was Reiima, she also bare Tebach, and
Gacham, and Tachash, and Maaka.
SECTION V.
CHAIYEY SARAH.
XXIII. And the life of Sarah was a hundred and
twenty and seven years, the years of the life of Sarah.
And Sarah died in Kiryath-arba, which is Hebron, in
the land of Kenaan. And Abraham came to mourn for
Sarah, and to lament her. And Abraham rose up from
the presence of his dead, and spake with the sons of
Hittah, saying, I am a guest and a sojourner with you :
give me the possession of a sepulchre with you, that I
may bury my dead from before me. And the sons of
Hittah answered Abraham, saying to him. Receive from
us Ribbona ; a prince before the Lord art thou among
us ; in the best of our sepulchres bury thy dead. No
man of us will refuse his sepulchre to thee for the burial
of thy dead. And Abraham rose and bowed to the
people of the land, the sons of Hittah. And he spake
with them, saying, If you are willing in your minds that
I should bury my dead from before me, receive from
me, and request1 for me of Ephron bar Zochar that he
will give me the Double Cavern,* which is in the side of
1 Sam. Vers., “ consult with.”
3 Mearath Kaphelta. Hebrew, Mearath Itamakphela, “ the double
cave ; ” root, kaphal , “ to couple.” LXX., rb <riniK<uov to SnrAovv.
XXIII.] ON GENESIS. 81
his field : for the full amount (skelim) of silver he shall
give it to me among you for the possession of a
sepulchre. But Ephron was sitting in the midst of the
sons of Hittah ; and Ephron the Hittite answered
Abraham before the sons of Hittah, of all entering the
gate of the city, saying, No, my lord ; receive of me ; I
will present to thee the field and the cavern which is in
it ; to thee will I present it ; in sight of the sons of
my people will I present it to thee. Bury thy dead.
And Abraham bowed before the people of the land.
And he spake with Ephron before the people of the
land, saying, Nevertheless, if thou wilt do me a grace,
receive from me ; I will give money for the field ; take
of me, and I will bury my dead there. And Ephron
answered Abraham, saying to him, My lord, receive of
me : the land is worth four hundred sileen of silver ;
between me and thee what is it ? Bury thy dead. And
Abraham agreed with Ephron, and Abraham weighed to
Ephron the silver of which he had spoken before the
sons of Hittah, four hundred sileen of silver, which is
received in merchandise in every city.8 And Ephron
confirmed the field in which is the double cavern which
is before Mamre ; the field, and the cavern that is
therein, and all the trees which were in the field, in all
its boundaries round about, to Abraham, for a pur¬
chase, in the sight4 of the sons of Hitah, of all entering
the gate of the city. And after this Abraham buried
Sarah his wife in the double cavern of the field which
is before Mamre, that is Hebron, in the land of Kenaan.
And the field and the cavern which is in it were con¬
firmed to Abraham for the possession of a sepulchre
from the sons of Hittah.
XXIV. And Abraham was old, (and) advanced in
3 Or, “province/
4 “ By the testimony of.”
82 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
days, and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.
And Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his
house, who had authority over all which was his, Put
now thy hand under my thigh, and I will adjure thee
by the Word of the Lord, the God of heaven and the
God of the earth, that thou wilt not take a wife for my
son from the daughters of the Kenaanaee among whom
I dwell. But to my country and to my kindred thou
wilt go, and take a wife for my son Izhak. And the
servant said to him. Perhaps the woman will not be
willing to come after me to this land, — returning am I
to return thy son to the land from which thou hast
gone forth ? And Abraham said to him. Take care
that thou return not my son thither; the Lord, the
God of heaven, who took me from the house of my
father and from the land of my birth, and who spake to
me, and sware to me, saying, I will give thee this land,
will send His angel before thee, and thou wilt take a
wife for my son from thence. And if the woman be
not willing to come after thee, thou shalt be absolved
from this my oath ; only cause not my son to return
thither. And the servant put his hand under the thigh
of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning
that matter. And the servant took ten camels of the
camels of his lord and went. And all the goods of his
master were in his hand. And he arose and went to
Aram, which is upon Phrath, the river, to the city of
Nachor. And he made the camels rest without the city
at a well of waters in the evening time, at the time when
they came forth to fill. And he said. Lord God of my
master Abraham, let it, I pray, be opportune with me
this day, and deal thou graciously with my master
Abraham. Behold, I stand by the fountain of waters,
and the daughters of the men of the city will come forth
to draw water. Let the maiden to whom I shall say,
XXI Y.] ON GENESIS. 83
Reach thy waterpot, I pray, that I may drink ; and she
say, Drink, and I will also give thy camels drink, — be
she whom Thou hast prepared for Thy servant, for Izhak :
and in this I shall know that Thou hast dealt graciously
with my master. And it was while he had not ceased
to speak that, behold, Revekah came forth, (she) who
was born to Bethuel the son of Milcha, wife of Nachor,
brother of Abraham, and her pitcher upon her shoulder.
And the maiden was very fair to behold ; a virgin, and
man had not known her; and she descended to the
fountain, and filled her pitcher, and came up. And the
servant hasted to her presence, and said, Let me taste, I
pray, a little water from thy pitcher. And she said.
Drink, Ribboni ; and she made haste, and held her pitcher
upon her hand, and gave him to drink. And when she had
ended giving him drink, she said, Bor thy camels also
I will draw, until they shall have enough to drink. And
she hastened and poured out her pitcher into the place
of watering, and ran again to the well to fill, and she
filled for all his camels. And the man wondered at her,
gazing silently, to know whether the Lord had prospered
his way or not. And it was when the camels had drunk
enough, the man took a ring {qadasha) of gold weighing
a shekel, and two bracelets ( sherin ) for the hand
weighing ten sileen of gold. And he said, Whose
daughter art thou ? Tell me, I pray, whether there be
room in thy father's house sufficient for us to lodge ?
And she said to him, I am the daughter of Bethuel, the
son of Milcha, whom she bare to Nachor. And she said
to him, There is much straw and provender with us,
also room enough to lodge. And the man kneeled, and
worshipped before the Lord, and said, Blessed be the
Lord the God of my master Abraham, who hath not
withheld His grace and His truth from my master;
and me hath the Lord led in a right way to the
84 TAHGTJM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
house of my master’s brother. And the maiden ran
and showed these things to her mother's house. And
Revekah had a brother whose name was Laban ;
and Laban ran to the man without at the fountain.
And it was when he saw the ring and the bracelets
upon the hands of his sister, and heard the words of
Revekah his sister, saying, As this spake the man with
me, that he came to the man, and, behold, he stood by
the camels at the fountain ; and he said, Enter, blessed
of the Lord ; s why standest thou without ? and I have a
prepared house and a proper place for the camels.
And the man entered the house, and he loosed the
camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels,
and water to wash his feet, and the feet of the men who
were with him. And they set before him to eat. And
he said, I will not eat until I have spoken my words.
And he said, Speak. And he said, I am a servant of
Abraham ; and the Lord hath blessed my master
much, and increased, and hath given to him sheep
and oxen, silver and gold, servants and handmaidens,
camels and asses. And Sarah the wife of my master
bare a son to my master after she was old, and he
hath given to him all that he hath. And my mas¬
ter adjured me, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife
for my son from the daughters of Kenaan in whose
land I dwell; but thou shalt go to my father's
house, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son.
And I said to my master, Perhaps the woman will not
come after me. And he said to me, The Lord before
whom T worship will send His angel with thee, and will
prosper thy way, and thou shalt take a wife for my son
from my kindred and from my father's house. Then
shalt thou be absolved from my oath, when thou hast
5 Sana. Vers., “blessed of the Lord who comest.
ON GENESIS.
85
XXIV.]
gone to my kindred : and if they will not give unto
thee, thou shalt be absolved from my oath. And I came
this day to the fountain, and I said, Lord God of my
master Abraham, if now it is pleasing before thee to
prosper the way in which I go, behold, I stand at the
fountain of waters, and a damsel may come forth to
fill ; and I will say to her. Give me to drink, I entreat,
a little water from thy pitcher ; and she shall say to me.
Both for thee and thy camels also I will fill, — let her
be the wife whom the Lord hath ordained for my
master's son. And I had not left speaking in my heart,
when, behold, Revekah came forth, with her pitcher
upon her shoulder, and went down to the fountain and
filled. And I said to her, Let me now drink. And
she hastened and let down her pitcher, and said, Drink,
and I will give thy camels also drink. And I drank,
and the camels also she watered. And I asked her
and said, Whose daughter art thou ? and she said, I
am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Nachor, whom
Milcha bare to him. And I set an ornament on her
face, and bracelets upon her hand, and bowed down
and worshipped before the Lord, and blessed the Lord
God of my master Abraham who had led me in a true
way, to take the daughter of my master's brother for
his son. And now, if you will act with goodness
and truth with my master, show me ; and if not, I will
turn to the right or to the left. And Laban answered,
and Bethuel, and said. Prom before the Lord the word
hath come forth : we have no power to say to thee
either evil or good. Behold, Revekah is before thee;
take (her) and go; and let her be the wife of thy
master's son, as the Lord hath spoken. And it was,
when the servant of Abraham heard these words, he
worshipped on the earth before the Lord. And the
servant brought out vessels of silver and vessels of gold
86
TARGUM O Y ONKELOS
[chap.
and vestments, and gave to Revekah, and presents gave
he to her brother and to her mother. And they ate
and drank, he and the men who were with him, and
they lodged and arose in the morning. And he said.
Send me to my master. And her brother said, and her
mother, Let the maiden abide with us a season of time,
or ten months ; after that she shall go. And he said
to them, Keep me not back : the Lord will direct my
way, and I will proceed to my master. And they said,
We will call the maiden, and hear what she will say.
And they called Revekah, and said to her, Wilt thou go
with this man ? and she said, I will go . And they
dismissed Revekah their sister, and her nurse, and the
servant of Abraham, and his men. And they blessed
Revekah, and said to her. Thou art our sister ; be thou
(multiplied) unto thousands and myriads, and may thy
children inherit the cities of those who hate them.
And Revekah arose, and her maidens ; and they rode
upon camels, and went after the man. And the
servant took Revekah and went. And Izhak ascended
in coming from the well over which the Angel of Life
(; malak qayama, “ the Eternal Angel ”) had appeared ;
and he dwelt in the land of the south. And Izhak
wrent forth to pray in the field, at the presence of the
evening; and he lifted up his eyes, and looked, and,
behold, the camels came. And Revekah lifted up her
eyes, and saw Izhak ; and she bowed herself on the
camel. And she said to the servant. Who is the man
who is walking in the field to meet us ? And the
servant said, He is my master. And she took a mantle
and covered herself. And the servant recounted to
Izhak all the things which he had done. And Izhak
brought her to the tabernacle : and he saw, and, behold,
her works were right as the works of Sarah his mother.
And he took Revekah, and she became his wife, and
XXV.] ON GENESIS. 87
he loved her. And Izhak was comforted after his
mother.
XXV. And Abraham added, and took a wife, and
her name was Keturah; and she bare to him Zimran,
and Yokshan, and Medan, and Midyan, and Yeshbach,
and Shuvach. And Yokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan ;
and the sons of Dedan have been in camps and taber¬
nacles and islands.6 And the sons of Midyan, Eipha,
and Epher, and Hanok, and Abidah, and Eldaah : all
these the sons of Keturah. And Abraham gave all
that he had unto Izhak. But to the sons of the con¬
cubine of Abraham gave Abraham portions, and sent
them from his son Izhak, while he yet lived, eastward
in the land of the sunrise. And these are the days of
the years of the life of Abraham that he lived, an hun¬
dred and seventy and five years. And Abraham expired,
and died in a good old age, aged, and full of days ; and
he was gathered unto his people. And Izhak and
Ishmael his sons buried him in the twofold cave in the
field of Ephron bar Zochar, the Hittah, which is before
Mamre ; the field which Abraham bought from the
sons of Hittah : there they buried Abraham and Sarah
his wife. And it was after the death of Abraham that
the Lord blessed Izhak his son, and Izhak dwelt at the
well over which the Eternal Angel had appeared. And
these are the generations of Ishmael bar Abraham,
whom Hagar the Mizretha, the handmaid of Sarah, bare
to Abraham. And these are the names of the sons of
Ishmael by their names in their generations. The
firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; and Kedar, and Adbeel,
and Mibsam, and Mishma, and Duma, and Massa; Hadad,
and Thema, Yetoor, Naphish, and Kedemah. These
are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names in
their villages and their towns, twelve chiefs of their
8 Sam. Vers., “ were Ritorim and Amshakim and Amanim.”
88 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
peoples.7 And these are the years of the life of Ishmael,
a hundred and thirty and seven years. And he expired
and died, and was gathered to his people. And they
have dwelt from Havilah unto Hagra, which looketh
toward Mizraim, reaching unto Athoor. In the pre¬
sence of all his brethren he dwelt.
SECTION VI.
TOLEDOTH.
And these are the generations of Izhak bar Abraham.
Abraham begat Izhak ; and Izhak was a son of forty
years when he took Revekah, the daughter of Bethuel
the Aramite of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the
Aramite, to be his wife. And Izhak prayed before the
Lord for his wife, because she was barren ; and the Lord
hearkened to his prayer, and Revekah his wife con¬
ceived. And the children struggled in her womb ; and
she said, If thus, why have I conceived ? And she
went to seek instruction before the Lord : and the Lord
said to her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two
kingdoms from thy womb shall be divided, and (one)
kingdom (shall be) stronger than (the other) kingdom,
and the greater shall be subject to the less. And her
days were fulfilled to give birth. And, behold, twins
were in her womb. And the first came forth red, all
of him as a garment (covering) of hair ; and they called
his name Esau. And afterwards came forth his brother,
and his hand grasped the heel of Esau, and they called
his name Jakob.8 And Izhak was sixty years old when
he begat them. And the youths grew ; and Esau was a
man of idleness, a man going out into the field ; and
7 Sara. Vers., “ according to their elevations.”
Ya-a-kov.
89
XXVI.] ON GENESIS.
Jakob was a man of peace, a minister of the house of
instruction. And Izhak loved Esau, because he ate of
his hunting, and Rivekah loved Jakob. And Jakob
dressed pottage, and Esau came from the field, and he
was faint. And Esau said to Jakob, Let me taste now
of that red, that red ! for I am faint : (therefore he
called his name Edom i1) and Jakob said, Sell this day
thy birthright to me. And Esau said, Behold, I am
going to die, and what is this birthright to me ? 2 And
Jakob said. Swear to me to-day ; and he sware to him
and he sold his birthright to Jakob. And Jakob gave
to Esau bread and pottage of lentiles. And he ate and
drank, and arose, and went : and Esau despised the
birthright.
XXYI. And there was a famine in the land, besides
the former famine that was in the days of Abraham ;
and Izhak went to Abimelek, king of the Philistaee, to
Gerar.3 And the Lord appeared to him and said. Go
not down into Mizraim,4 remain in the land as I have
told thee; dwell in this land, and My Word shall be to
thee for a helper; and I will bless thee. Eor to thee
and to thy son will I give all these lands ; and I will
confirm the oath that I have sworn to Abraham thy
father ; and I will multiply thy son as the stars of
heaven, and will give thy son all these lands, and
through thy son shall all the peoples of the earth be
blessed, because Abraham obeyed My word, and kept
the keeping of My word. My commandments, My cove¬
nant, and My law. And Izhak dwelt at Gerar ; and the
men of the place asked respecting his wife. And he said,
She is my sister ; for he feared to say. My wife, lest
the men of the place should kill him on account of
1 "Red.”
a Sam. Vers., " and what is my business with the birthright ? ”
3 Sam. Vers., “at Askelou.” 4 Sam. Vers., “Nopliig.”
90 TAEGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
Revekah ; for she was of beautiful aspect. And it was
when he had been there many days that Abimelek the
king of the Philistaee looked from a window, and, be¬
hold, Izhak was sporting with Revekah his wife. And
Abimelek called Izhak and said. Nevertheless, behold,
she is thy wife : why then hast thou said, She is my
sister ? And Izhak said to him, Because I said. Lest
I be killed on account of her. And Abimelek said,
"What is this that thou hast done to us ? It might
have been that some one of the people had lain with
thy wife, and thou wouldst have brought upon us the
guilt. And Abimelek commanded all the people saying,
Whoever injureth this man shall surely be put to death.
And Izhak sowed in the land, and found in that year a
hundred fold on that which he had expended, (or esti¬
mated,) and the Lord blessed him ; and the man in¬
creased, and went on multiplying and increasing, until
he had increased greatly. And he had flocks of sheep,
and herds of cattle, and many servants ; and the Philis¬
taee were envious of him. And all the wells that the
servants of his father had digged in the days of Abra¬
ham the Philistaee stopped up, and filled with dust.
And Abimelek said to Izhak, Go from us ; for thou art
much stronger than we. And Izhak went thence, and
sojourned in the vale of Gerar, and dwelt there. And
Izhak returned, and digged the well of water which
they had digged in the days of Abraham his father, and
which the Philistaee had stopped after the death of
Abraham ; and he called their names after the names
by which his father had called them. And the servants
of Izhak digged in the valley, and found there a well
of flowing 0 waters. And the shepherds of Gerar strove
with the shepherds of Izhak, saying, The water is ours ;
and he called the name of the well Contention, because
5 Sam. Vers., “ sweet.”
ON GENESIS.
91
XXVI.]
they had contended with him. And they digged ano¬
ther well, and they strove also on account of it, and he
called the name of it Hatred. And he went up from
thence, and digged another well ; and for that they
strove not : and he called the name of it Spaciousness.
For he said, Because now hath the Lord enlarged us,
and we shall spread abroad in the land. And he went
up from thence to Beershava ; and the Lord appeared
to him in the night, and said, I am the God of Abra¬
ham thy father ; fear not : for in thy help is My Word ;
and I will bless thee, and will multiply thy sons for the
sake of Abraham My servant. And he builded there
an altar, and prayed in the name of the Lord. And
he spread there his tabernacle ; and the servants of
Izhak digged there a well. And Abimelek came to
him from Gerar, and a company of his friends, and
Phikol 6 the chief of his host. And Izhak said to him.
Why have you come to me, when you have hated me,
and sent me from you? And they said, Seeing we
have seen that the Word of the Lord is for thy help ; and
we have said, Let the oath which was between our
fathers be now confirmed between us and thee, and let
us enter into a covenant with thee, that thou do us no
evil, as we have not injured thee, and as we have done
thee only good, and we will leave thee in peace; thou
art now blessed of the Lord. And he made them a
feast, and they ate and drank. And they arose in the
morning and covenanted, each man with his brother ;
and Izhak dismissed them, and they went from him in
peace. And it was in that day that the servants of
Izhak came and showed him concerning the well that
they had digged. And they said to him, We have found
water. And he called it Sheva, (the swearing).
8 Here the Sam. Vers, metaphrases the name into “ Mimarkol,” with
the same import as “ Pumkol ” in chap. xxi.
92 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP. 1
Wherefore the name of the city is Beer-sheva unto
this day.
And Esau was the son of forty years, and he took to )
wife Jehudith, daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Base- 3
math, daughter of Elon the Hittite ; and they wTere ]
rebels and irritators against the word of Izhak and 3
Revekah.
XXVII. And it was, when Izhak was old, and his j
eyes were darkened from seeing, that he called Esau, i
his eldest son, and said to him, My son. And he said
to him, Behold, I am. And he said, Behold now, I
am old, I know not the day that I shall die : and now
take thy weapons, thy knife and thy bow, and go out
into the field, and hunt me venison, and make me food 7 i
such as I like, and bring it to me, and I will eat, and \
my soul shall bless thee before I die. And Revekah ]
listened as Izhak was speaking with his son Esau. 1
And Esau went into the field to hunt venison to briug
it. And Revekah spake to Jakob, her son, saying, i
Behold, I have heard thy father speaking with Esau ]
thy brother, saying, Bring me now venison, and make J
me food, and 1 will eat and bless thee in the presence 1
of the Lord before I die. And now, my son, obey me
in what I command thee. Go now to the flock, and «
take thee from thence two good goat-kids, and make j
them into food for thy father such as he loves, aud 1
carry in to thy father, that he may eat, aud bless thee j
before he die. And Jakob said to Revekah his mother, J
Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a ]
smooth man. It may be that my father will feel me, j
and I shall be in his eyes as a deceiver, and shall bring l
upon me curses, and not blessings. And his mother j
said to him, Unto me it hath been said in prophecy, j
that there shall be no curses upon thee, my son ; only j
7 Tavshelin , " stewed meats.”
93
XXVII.] ON GENESIS.
obey me, and go, and take for me. And he went, and
took, and brought to his mother, and his mother made
food such as his father loved. And Eevekah took the
vestments of Esau her elder son, (which were) clean,
and were with her in the house, and clothed Jakob her
younger son. And with the skins of the kids she
covered his hands, and upon the smoothness of his
neck. And she gave the food and the bread that she
had made into the hand of Jakob her son. And he
went in to his father, and said. Father ! And he said.
Behold me. Who art thou, my son? And Jakob
said to his father, I am Esau, thy firstborn : I have done
as thou hast told me. Arise now, turn thyself, and
eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. And
Izhak said to his son, What is this, thou hast so
quickly found, my son ? And he said, Because the
Lord thy God prepared it before me. And Izhak said
to Jakob, Draw near now, and I will feel thee, my son,
whether thou be my son Esau or not. And Jakob
drew near to Izhak his father, and he felt him, and
said, The voice is the voice of Jakob ; but the hands
are the hands of Esau. And he could not be known,
because his hands were hairy, like the hands of Esau
his brother ; and he blessed him. And he said, But art
thou my son Esau ? And he said, I am ! And he
said. Bring before me, and I will eat of my son's
venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he offered
to him, and he did eat ; and he brought him wine, and
he drank. And Izhak his father said to him, Approach
now, and kiss me, my son. And he approached, and
kissed him, and he smelled the fragrance of his vest¬
ments, and blessed him, and said, Lo, the smell of my
son is as the fragrance of a field which the Lord hath
blessed. And the Lord shall give thee of the dew of
heaven, and of the goodness of the earth, and abund-
94
TARGUM OF ONKELOS
[chap.
ance of corn and of wine. Let the peoples serve thee, and
kingdoms be subservient to thee : be thou chief of thy
brethren, and let the sons of thy mother worship thee :
cursed shall they be who curse thee, and blessed shall
they be who bless thee !
And it was when Izhak had completed to bless Jakob,
and Jakob had, going, only gone out from Izhak his
father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunt¬
ing. And he had also made food, and he brought it
to his father, and said to his father. Arise, my father,
and eat of thy son's venison, that thy soul may bless
me. And Izhak his father said to him, Who art
thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn,
Esau. And Izhak was wonderstruck with exceeding great
wonder, and said, Who was he who prepared venison,
and brought it to me, and I have eaten of all before
thou earnest, and I have blessed him ? and blessed
shall he be. When Esau heard the words of his father,
he cried a cry, great and bitter exceedingly. And
he said to his father, Bless me, also, me, father ! And
he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath
received thy blessing. And he said. Rightly is his name
called Jakob, he hath dealt subtilly with me these two
times ; my birthright he took, and, behold, now he hath
received my blessing. And he said. Hast thou not
left me a blessing? And Izhak answered, and said
to Esau, Behold, I have set him a chief over thee,
and all his brethren I have given to him for servants,
and with corn and wine have I sustained him : and
for thee now what can I do, my son ? And Esau
said to his father, Hast thou but one blessing, father ?
Bless me, me also, my father. And Esau lifted up his
voice and wept. And Izhak his father answered and
said to him. Behold, thy habitation shall be of the best
of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above.
XXVIII.] ON GENESIS. 95
And by thy sword shalt thou live, and thy brother obey ;
and it will be that when his sons shall have trans¬
gressed the words of the law, thou wilt cast his yoke
from off thy neck. And Esau kept enmity towards
Jakob for the blessing wherewith his father had blessed
him. And Esau said in his heart, The days of mourn¬
ing for father draw near, and I will kill Jakob my
brother. And the words of Esau her eldest son were
shown to Eevekah, and she sent and called Jakob her
younger son, and said to him, Behold, Esau thy
brother plotteth against thee to kill thee. And now,
my son, receive from me, and arise and go to Laban my
brother at Haran, and dwell with him a few days, until
thy brother’s wrath turn away, until the anger of thy
brother turn from thee, and what thou hast done to
him be forgotten ; and I will send and bring thee
thence. Why should I be bereaved of both of you in
one day ? And Eevekah said to Izhak, I am grieved in
my life at the sight of the daughters of Hittah. If
Jakob take a wife of the daughters of Hittah, like
these of the daughters of the land, what to me is life?
XXVIII. And Izhak called Jakob and blessed him.
And he commanded him, and said to him, Thou shalt
not take a wife from the daughters of Kenaan ; arise,
go to Padan Aram to the house of Bethuel the father
of thy mother, and take to thee from thence a wife of
the daughters of Laban, the brother of thy mother.
And the All-sufficient God bless thee, and make thee
to increase and multiply, and become an assemblage of
tribes ; and give the blessing of Abraham to thee and
thy sons with thee, that thou mayest inherit the land
of thy habitation which the Lord gave to Abraham.
And Izhak sent Jakob away, and he went to Padan
Aram to Laban bar Bethuel, the Aramite, the brother
of Eevekah, the mother of Jakob and Esau. And
96 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
Esau, when he saw that Izhak had blessed Jakob,
and sent him to Padan Aram to take from thence a
wife, and, as he blessed him, commanded him, saying,
Thou shalt not take a wife from the daughters of
Kenaan, and that Jakob had obeyed his father and his
mother, and had gone to Padan Aram, Esau, consider¬
ing that the daughters of Kenaan were evil in the eyes
of Izhak his father, went to Ishmael, and took Maha-
lath, daughter of Ishmael bar Abraham, the sister of
Nebaioth, over his wives, unto him to wife.
SECTION VII.
VAYETSE YAAKOV.
And Jakob went forth from Beersheva, and went to
Haran ; and he arrived at a place, and lodged there,
because the sun had gone. And he took of the stones
of the place, and set his pillow, and lay down in that
place. And he dreamed : and, behold, a ladder was
planted in the earth, and the head of it reached unto
the height of heaven ; and, behold, the angels of the
Lord ascended and descended upon it; and, behold,
the Glory of the Lord stood above it, and He
said, I am the God of Abraham thy father, and
the God of Izhak. The land where thou sleepest,
unto thee will I give it, and unto thy sons. And
thy sons shall be many as the dust of the earth,
and shall prevail to the west and to the east, and
to the north and to the south ; and through thee shall
all the kindreds of the earth be blessed, and through
thy sons. And, behold, My Word shall be for thy help,
XXIX.] ON GENESIS. 97
and I will keep thee in every place whither thou goest,
and I will bring thee again to this land ; for I will not
leave thee until I have done what I say to thee. And
Jakob awoke from his sleep, and said, Yerily the Glory
of the Lord dwelleth in this place, and I knew it not.
And he feared and said, How awful is this place ! This
place is not common (ground), but a place where there
is pleasantness before the Lord ; and this is nigh the
gate of heaven. And Jakob rose up early in the morn¬
ing, and took the stone which he had set for his pillow,
and set it up, a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of
it. And he called the name of that place The House
of God (Beth-el). But Luz was the name of the city
at the first. And Jakob vowed a vow, saying, If the
Word of the Lord will be my help, and will keep me in
that way in which I go, and will give me bread to eat,
and raiment to wear, and bring me again in peace to
my father's house, the Word of the Lord shall be my
God. And at this stone which I have set up (as) a
pillar, will I worship before the Lord ; and of all that
Thou shalt give me, the tenth will I separate before
Thee.
XXIX. And Jakob lifted up his feet, and came to
the land of the children of the East. And he looked,
and saw a well in a field ; and, behold, three flocks of
sheep lying near it, because from that well they watered
the flocks ; and a great stone was upon the mouth of
the well. And thither all the flocks were gathered
together ; and they withdrew the stone from the mouth
of the well, and watered the flock, and returned the
stone upon the mouth of the well unto its place. And
Jakob said to them, My brethren, whence are you?
And they said, We are from Haran. And Jakob said
to them, Know you Laban bar Nachor ? And they
said, We know. And he said. Hath he peace? And
F
98 TARGTTM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
they said. Peace; and, behold, Kahel his daughter
cometh with the flock. And he said. Behold, the day is
yet great, it is not time to gather the cattle ; water the
sheep, and go to the pasture. And they said, We cannot
till all the flocks are gathered, and we remove the stone
from the mouth of the well, and water the flock.
While he spake with them, Rahel came, with the flock
of her father ; for she was a shepherdess. And it was,
when Jakob saw Rahel the daughter of Laban, the
brother of his mother, and the flock of Laban the bro¬
ther of his mother, that Jakob went near, and withdrew
the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock
of Laban, his mother's brother. And Jakob kissed
Rahel, and lifted up his voice and wept. And Jakob
showed Rahel that he was the son of her father's sister,
and that he was the son of Revekah. And she ran and
showed to her father. And it was when Laban heard
the hearing of Jakob the son of his sister, that he ran
to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and
brought him into his house ; and he narrated to Laban
all these words. And Laban said to him, Thou art,
however, my near (kinsman), and thou art my flesh.
And he abode with him a month of days. And Laban
said to Jakob, Because thou art my brother, shalt thou
serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall be thy
wages ? And Laban had two daughters, the name of
the elder Leah, and the name of the younger Rahel.
And the eyes of Leah were beautiful ; 8 but Rahel was
admirable in form, and beautiful in aspect. And Jakob
loved Rahel, and he said, I will serve thee seven years
for Rahel thy younger daughter. And Laban said, It
is better that I give her to thee than give her to another
man ; reside with me. And Jakob served for Rahel
seven years ; and they were in his eyes as a few days,
8 Comp. Song i. 15.
XXIX.] ON GENESIS. 99
inasmuch as he loved her. And Jakob said to Laban,
Give me my wife ; for the days of my service are fulfilled,
and I will go to her. And Laban assembled all the
men of the place, and made a feast. And it was in the
evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and intro¬
duced her to him, and he entered to her. And Laban
gave her Zilpha his handmaid unto Leah his daughter,
to attend on her. And it was in the morning, and,
behold, she was Leah ! And he said to Laban, What
is this that thou hast done to me ? Was it not for
Eahel that I served thee ? and why hast thou been false
with me ? And Laban said, It is not so done in our
place, to give the younger before the elder. Fulfil this
week, and I will give thee also that, for the service that
thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. And
Jakob did so, and fulfilled the week of this ; and he gave
him Eahel his daughter to be his wife. And Laban
gave to Eahel his daughter Bilhah her handmaid to wait
upon her. And he went in also to Eahel, and he loved
Eahel more than Leah. And he served yet with him
seven other years. And the Lord saw that Leah was
hated, and He gave her to conceive, but Eahel was bar¬
ren. And Leah conceived and bare a son, and she
called his name Eeuben ;9 for she said, Because my afflic¬
tion was manifest before the Lord ; for now will my
husband love me. And she conceived again and bare a
son, and she said, Because it was heard before the Lord
that I had hatred, and He gave me this also ; and she
called his name Shemeon.1 And she conceived again
and bare a son : and she said, This time will my hus¬
band adhere to me ; for I have born him three sons :
therefore she called his name Levi.2 And she con¬
ceived again and bare a son ; and she said, This time
will I give praise before the Lord : therefore she called
* “Manifestation.” 1 “Hearing.” * “Union.”
F 2
TARGUM OF ONKELOS
100
[chap.
his name Jehudah.* And she ceased (stood) from
bearing.
XXX. And Rahel saw that she did not bear unto
Jakob ; and Rahel envied her sister, and she said to
Jakob, Give me children; and if not, I die. And the
anger of Jakob was incensed against Rahel, and he said.
Why ask of me ? Is it not before the Lord that thou
shouldest ask, who hath denied thee the generation of
the womb ? And she said, Behold my handmaid Bil-
hah, go in unto her, and she shall bear, and I also shall
nourish (children), and be builded up from her. And
she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife ; and Jakob
went in unto her, and Bilhah conceived, and bare to
Jakob a son. And Rahel said. The Lord hath judged
me, and hath also received my prayer, and given me a
son : therefore she called his name Dan.4 And Bilhah
the handmaid of Rahel conceived again, and bare a
second son to Jakob. And Rahel said. The Lord hath
received my request : when I entreated in my prayer, I
desired that I might have offspring as my sister, and
also it is given me. And she called his name Naphtali.®
And Leah saw that she had ceased from bearing, and
she took Zilpha her handmaid, and gave her to Jakob
to wife. And Zilpha the handmaid of Leah bare a son
to Jakob, and Leah said, There cometh prosperity; and
she called his name Gad.6 And Zilpha the handmaid
of Leah bare a second son to Jakob ; and Leah said,
Praise shall be mine ; now will women praise me ; and
she called his name Asher.7 And Reuben went in the
days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes8 in the
3 “Praise.” 4 “Judgment.” * “ Wrestled for.”
6 “ Fortune, prosperity.” In Chaldee, “ a fortunate star.”
7 " Happiness.”
8 Yavruchin. Hebrew, dudaim. Septuagint, /u7?Xa pavhpayopQv,
“ apples of mandrakes ” (“ atropa mandragora ,” Linnaeus). The Samari¬
tan expression is as the Hebrew, and fhe Peschito as the Targum.
ON GENESIS.
101
XXX.]
field, and he brought them to Leah his mother. And
Eahel said to Leah, Give me now of thy son's man¬
drakes. And she said to her, Is it a little that thou
hast taken my husband, and thou wilt take also my
son's mandrakes ? And Eahel said, Therefore shall he
lie with thee at night for thy son's mandrakes. And
Jakob came in from the field at evening, and Leah went
out to anticipate him, and said, With me thou wilt go
in, because with hire have I hired thee, with the man¬
drakes of my son; and he lay with her that night.
And the Lord received the prayer of Leah, and she
conceived, and bare to Jakob a fifth son. And Leah
said, The Lord hath given me my reward, because I
gave my handmaid to my husband. And she called
his name Issakar.9 And Leah conceived again, and
bare a sixth son to Jakob. And Leah said, The Lord
hath given me a good portion.1 This time will the
habitation of my husband be with me, because I have
born him six sons : therefore she called his name Zebu-
Ion.3 And afterward she bare a daughter, and called,
her name Dinah.3 And the remembrance of Eahel
came before the Lord, and the Lord received her
prayer, and gave her to conceive. And she conceived
and bare a son, and she said, The Lord hath taken up 4
my reproach. And she called his name Joseph,5 saying,
The Lord shall add to me another son.
And it was when Eahel had born Joseph, that
Jakob said to Laban, Send me away, that I may
go to my place, and to my land. Give me my
wives and my children, for whom I have served thee,
that I may go : for thou knowest the service with
which I have served thee. And Laban said to him. If
9 “Wages.” 1 Sam. Vers., “ God hath helped me with good help.”
2 “Habitation.” • “Judgment.”
4 Or, “ cleansed away.” See Castel, voce Kenash.
5 u Addition.”
102 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
now I have found grace in thine eyes, I have proved
that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake. And he
said, Certify 6 thy wages with me, and I will give. And
he said to him, Thou k no west how I have served thee,
and what thy flocks have been with me ; for thou hadst
few before me, and they have increased into a multi¬
tude : and the Lord hath blessed thee for my sake.7
But now, what shall I do also for my (own) house ? And
he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said,
Thou shalt not give me anything; but if thou wilt do
with me this matter, I will return, and, pasturing thy
flocks, will keep (them). I will pass through all thy
flocks to-day, and set apart from them every lamb streaked
and speckled, and every black lamb among the lambs,
and the streaked and speckled among the goats, and
they shall be my wages. And my righteousness shall
be testified in the day following, when thou wilt come
upon my reward that shall be before thee : every one
which is not streaked or speckled among the goats, and
black among the lambs, that shall be (as if) stolen by
me. And Laban said, Let it be according to thy word.
And he set apart that day the he-goats of various colour,
and all the goats which were speckled or spotted, every
one which had (some) white in him, and all that were
black among the lambs : and he gave them into the
hand of his sons. And he set a walk of three days
between them and Jakob; and Jakob pastured the flock
of Laban which remained. And Jakob took to him
rods of white poplars, and of almond, (or hazel,) and of
plane tree, and peeled in them white peelings, (so that,
where) peeled, the white which was in the rods
appeared. And he fixed the rods that he had peeled in
the canals, in the place of the watering of waters, the
place to which they brought the flocks to drink, to be
6 Or, “distinguish.” 7 Sara. Vers., “through my help.”
ON GENESIS.
103
XXXE.]
over against the flocks, that they might be incited when
they came to drink. And the sheep were incited before
the rods, and the sheep brought forth with chequered
feet and streaked. And J akob separated the lambs, and
set before the sheep all which were various-coloured and
all that were black among the sheep of Laban; and
placed them for himself a flock apart, not mixing them
with the sheep of Laban. And it was that whenever
the early (prime) sheep conceived, Jakob placed the
rods before the eyes of the sheep in the canals, that they
might conceive before the rods : but before the late
sheep he did not place them. And (so) the late ones
were Laban's, and the prime ones Jacob's. And the
man increased very greatly, and had a multitude of
flocks, and handmaids, and servants, and camels, and
asses.
XXXI. And he heard the words of Laban's sons,
saying, Jacob hath taken all that was our father's ;
and of that which was our father's he hath gotten all
these possessions. And Jakob saw the looks of Laban,8
and, behold, they were not with him as yesterday, and
the time before. And the Lord said to Jacob, Return
to thy country and to thy native (place) : and My Word
shall be for thy help. And Jacob sent and called
Rahel and Leah to the field with his flocks : and he
said to them, I see the looks of your father, that they
are not with me as yesterday and the time before ; and
the God of my father hath been to my help. And you
know that with all my strength I have served your
father ; but your father hath lied to me, and hath changed
my wages ten times ; but the Lord hath not permitted
him to hurt me. If now he said. The streaked shall be
thy wages ; then all the flock bare streaked : and if
now he said, The chequered shall be thy wages ; all the
9 Or, “ the aspect of the looks of Laban.”
104 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
flock bare chequered. And the Lord hath separated
them from the cattle of your father, and hath given
(them) to me. And it was at the time when the
flocks conceived, I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a
dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the
flock were chequered, streaked, and speckled. And
the angel of the Lord said to me in a dream, Jacob.
And I said, Behold, I am. And he said, Lift up now
thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the
flock are chequered, streaked, and speckled: because
all that Laban hath done to thee is manifest before Me.
I am Eloha,9 who appeared to thee at Bethel, where
thou didst anoint the pillar, and where before Me thou
didst swear the oath : arise now, go from this land, and
return to the land of thy birth. And Bah el and Leah
answered and said to him, Have we yet a portion or
inheritance in our father’s house ? Are we not
accounted as strangers by him ? for he hath sold us,
and hath devoured our money also. Therefore, all the
wealth that the Lord hath separated from our father is
ours and our children’s : and now all that the Lord hath
said to thee, do. And Jakob arose, and lifted up his
sons and his wives upon camels ; and led all his herds
and all his substance which he had obtained, his herds
and his substance which he had obtained in Padan-
Aram, to go unto Izhak his father in the land of
Kenaan. And Laban had gone to shear his flock : and
Bahel took the images 1 that were her father’s. And
Jakob concealed from Laban the Aramite, and showed
him not that he went. And he went, he and all that
were his ; and he arose and passed the Phrat, and set
his face toward the mountain of Gilead. And it was
9 Sam. Vers,, “ I am the Most Mighty.”
1 Tsilmanaia. The word in the Hebrew text ( teraphim ) is probably
from the Aramaic teraph, “ to inquire.’1
ON GENESIS.
105
xxxr.]
shown to Laban on the third day that Jakob had gone.
And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after
him, going seven days ; and he overtook him in the
mountain of Gilead. And a word came from before the
Lord to Laban the Aramite in a dream of the night, and
He said to him, Beware, lest thou speak with Jakob
from good to evil. And Laban overtook Jakob ; and
Jakob had spread his tent in the mountain ; and Laban
made his brethren abide in the mountain of Gilead.
And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that
thou hast hidden from me, and taken away my
daughters, as captives of the sword ? Why didst thou
conceal thy going, (or conceal thyself to go,) and didst
hide it from me, and not show me, that I might then
have sent thee away with mirth, and with hymns,3 and
with tambourines, and with harps ? Nor didst thou
suffer me3 to kiss my sons and my daughters. Now hast
thou done foolishly. It is in the power of my hands to
do evil with thee : but the God of thy father spake to
me in the evening, saying, Beware lest thou speak to
Jakob from good to evil. And now, (though) going
thou wouldest go, because desiring thou hast desired
the house of thy father, why hast thou taken my reli¬
gion ? 4 And Jakob answered and said to Laban, Because
I feared ; for I said, Lest thou shouldst take away thy
daughters from me. The place where thou shalt find
thy religious things shall not abide : before our
brethren ascertain thou what of thine is with me, and
take to thee. But Jakob knew not that Rahel had
carried them away. And Laban entered into the tent
of Leah,5 and into the tent of the two concubines, but
found not ; and he went forth from the tent of Leah,
3 Sam. Ver3., “with chief or great things ” ( rabbonim ).
3 Sam. Vers., “nor didst thou expect (or wait) that I might kiss.”
4 Dachalti. 5 Sam. Vers., “and diligently searched,”
F 5
106 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
and entered the tent of Rahel. But Rahel had taken
the images, and laid them in the panniers 6 of the camels,
and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent,
but found not. And she said to her father, Let it not
be displeasing in the eyes of my lord, that I am not able
to rise before thee ; for the way of women is upon me.
And he scrutinized, but found not the images. And
Jakob was angry, and contended with Laban. And
Jakob answered and said to Laban, What is my guilt,
what is my crime, that thou hast pursued after me ?
Now that thou hast searched all my things/ what hast
thou found, of all the things of thy house ? Set it here
before my brethren and thy brethren, and they shall
decide between us both. These twenty years have I
been with thee ; thy ewes and thy goats have not failed,
and the rams of thy flock I have not eaten. The
wounded I have not brought to thee; what was defi¬
cient iu number, from my hand hast thou required it.
I have watched by day, and I have watched by night.
(Thus) have I been ; in the day the heat devoured me, and
the frost came down upon me at night, and sleep passed
away from my eyes. These twenty years have I served
in thy house ; fourteen years for thy two daughters ; and
six years for thy sheep; and thou hast changed my
wages ten times. Unless the God of my fathers, the
God of Abraham, and He whom Izhak hath feared,8 had
been my helper, even now thou hadst sent me away
empty : but my labour, and the travail of my hands,
have been manifest before the Lord, and He rebuked
thee in the evening. And Laban answered and said to
Jakob, The daughters are my daughters, and the sons
my sons, and the sheep are my sheep, and all whatso-
6 The Hebrew Tear answers to the Arabic kuron, “ a pannier, cradle,
or chair, placed on each side the camel.”
7 Or, “ vessels.” 8 Sam. Vers., " the Redeemer of Izhak.”
ON GENESIS.
107
XXXI.]
ever thou seest is mine ; and to these, my daughters,
what can I do this day, or unto their children which
they have born ? And now come, let us enter into a
covenant, I and thou, and it shall be for a witness
between me and thee. And Jakob took a stone, and
set it up as a pillar. And Jakob said to his brethren,
Collect stones ; and they took stones, and made a
mound,9 and ate there upon the mound. And Laban
called it Yegar Sahadutha,1 but Jakob called it Gal-
Ed.2 And Laban said. This mound testifieth between
me and thee to-day. Therefore he called the name of it
The Heap of Witness, and The Observatory ; 3 for he
said, The Word of the Lord will observe between me
and thee, when we are hidden (each) man from his
neighbour. If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if
thou shalt take wives over my daughters, no man is
with us; see, the Word of the Lord is witness between
me and thee. And Laban said to Jakob, Behold this
mound and this pillar, which thou hast erected between
me and thee. This mound and pillar are a witness, that I
will not pass over this mound to thee ; and that thou shalt
not pass over this mound and this pillar, to do me evil.
The God of Abraham and the God of Nachor shall
judge between us, the God of their fathers.4 And
Jakob sware by Him whom Izhak his father feared.5
And Jakob sacrificed victims in the mountain, and
called his brethren to eat bread ; and they ate bread,
and tabernacled in the mountain. And Laban arose
• Degura, " a cumulus or mound ; ” from deger, Heb., dagar , “ to
collect, pile up.”
1 “ The Heap of Witness.” The oldest specimen of Aramaic extant.
3 Hebrew, “ The Heap of Witness.”
3 Sakutha. Chald., from Seka, aspexit, contemplatus est. The
Hebrew Mizpeh.
4 Sam. Vers., “the God of Abraham.”
5 Sam. Vers., “ by the Redeemer of his father Izhak.”
3 08
TAUGUM OF ONKELOS
[CHAP.
in the morning, and kissed his sons and his daughters,
and blessed them, and went ; and Laban returned to his
place. And Jakob went on his way, and the angels of
the Lord met him. And when Jakob saw them, he
said. This is a host 8 from before the Lord ; and he
called the name of the place Mahanaim.
SECTION VIII.
YAYISHLACH.
And Jakob sent messengers before him to Esau his
brother to the land of Seir,7 in the region of Edom ;
and he instructed them, saying, So shall you tell to my
lord, to Esau : Thus saith thy servant Jakob, With
Laban I have dwelt, and have tarried, until now. And
I have oxen, and asses, sheep, and servants, and hand¬
maids, and have sent to show my lord, to find grace in
thine eyes. And the messengers returned to Jakob,
saying, We came to thy brother, to Esau ; and he
cometh also to meet thee, and four hundred men with
him. And Jakob feared greatly, and it distressed him.
And he divided the people that were with him, and the
sheep, and oxen, and camels, into two hosts, and said.
If Esau come to the one host and smite it, the host
that is left may escape. And Jakob said, God of my
father Abraham, and God of my father Izhak, the Lord,
who didst say to me, Return to thy country and to thy
native place, and I will do thee good ; less are my right¬
eousnesses than all the mercies and all the benefits
which Thou hast performed unto Thy servant : for
alone I passed this Yardena, and now I have become
two bands. Deliver me now from the hand of my
brother, from the hand of Esau ; for I am afraid of him,
6 Or, “camp.” 7 Sam. Vers gabla, {gebel,) “the mountain.”
ON GENESIS.
109
XXXII.]
lest he come and smite me, and the mother with the
children. And Thou hast said, In doing good I will do
good with thee, and will make thy sons many as the
sand of the sea which cannot be numbered for number.
And he housed there that night, and took of that which
came to his hand, an offering for Esau his brother ;
goats two hundred, rams twenty, ewes two hundred, and
rams twenty, camels giving milk and their young ones
thirty, cows forty, and bulls ten, she-asses twenty, and
colts ten. And he gave them into the hand of his
servants, herd by herd separately, and said to his ser¬
vants, Pass over before me^ and put a space between
herd and herd. And he commanded the foremost, say¬
ing, If Esau my brother meet thee, and ask thee, say¬
ing, Whose art thou ? and, Whither goest thou ? and.
Whose are these that are before thee ? thou shalt say.
They are an offering of thy servant Jakob, which he
hath sent to my lord, to Esau ; and, behold, he also
cometh after us. And he instructed also the second
and the third, and all of them who followed the herds,
saying, According to this word you shall speak with
Esau, when you find him ; and say also. Behold, thy
servant Jakob cometh after. Eor he said, I will quiet
his anger by the offering that goeth before me, and
afterward I will see his face ; perhaps he will accept me.
And the offering went over before his face, and he
himself lodged that night in the camp. And he arose
in the night, and took his two wives, and his two con¬
cubines, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford
J ubeka ; and he took them and made them pass over
the torrent, and made what was his to pass over.
And Jakob remained alone; and a Man wrestled with
him till the morning ascended. And he saw that he pre¬
vailed not with him, and he touched the hollow 8 of his
8 Or, “ the palm.”
110 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
thigh, and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was dislocated 9
in wrestling with him. And he said, Let me go ; 1 for
the morning ascendeth. And he said, I will not let
Thee go, unless Thou bless me. And He said to him,
What is thy name ? And he said, Jakob. And He
said, Thy name shall be no longer Jakob, but Israel;
for a prince art thou before the Lord, and with men,
and thou hast prevailed. And Jakob asked Him, and
said, Show me now Thy Name ! And He said. Why dost
thou ask My Name ? And He blessed him there. And
Jakob called the name of the place Peniel : because I
have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face, and my
soul hath been saved ! And the sun arose upon him as
he passed over Penuel, and he went lame upon his
thigh. Therefore the sons of Israel do not eat the
sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the
thigh, unto this day, because He touched the hollow
of Jakob's thigh in the sinew that shrank.
XXXIII. And Jakob lifted up his eyes, and saw,
and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred
men ; and he divided the children with Leah, and with
Rahel, and with the two concubines. And he set the
concubines and their children first, and Leah and her
children after, and Rahel and Joseph after them. And
he passed over before them, and bowed to the earth
seven times, until he came nigh to his brother. And Esau
ran to meet him,2 and embraced him, and fell upon his
neck, and kissed him ; and they wept. And he lifted
up his eyes, and saw the women and the children, and
said, What are these to thee ? And he said, The
children whom the Lord hath given to thy servant.
And the concubines approached, they and their children,
and bowed. And Leah also approached and her children,
* Or, “ moved.” 1 “ Send me away.”
* Or, “ to prevent him.”
XXXIII.] ON GENESIS. I'll
and bowed ; and afterward Joseph and Rahel approached,
and bowed. And he said. What to thee is all this
troop which I have met ? And he said. To find mercy
in the eyes of my lord. And Esau said, I have much,
my brother ; let what is thine own profit thee.3 And
Jakob said, I pray thee, if I have now found mercy in
thine eyes, that thou wouldst accept the present from
my hand, because I have now seen thy face as the vision
of the face of the Great, and thou art pleased with me.
Receive, I pray, my offering which is brought to thee,
because the Lord hath been merciful to me, and because
I have all. And he was urgent on him, and he took it.
And he said, Let us journey and go, and I will go
along with thee. And he said. My lord knoweth that
the little ones are tender, and the sheep and kine giving
milk are with me ; and if they overdrive them one day,
all the flock may die. Let my lord pass on before his
servant, and I will lead on quietly, according to the foot
of the little ones, according to the foot of the work that
is before me, and according to the foot of the sucklings,
until I come to my lord at Seir.4 And Esau said, Let me
leave with thee of the people who are with me. And he
said, Why should this be ? Let me find grace in the eyes
of my lord. And Esau returned that day on his way to
Seir.4 And Jakob journeyed to Succoth, and builded him
an house, and made tabernacles for his cattle ; therefore
he called the name of the place Succoth.5
And Jakob came in peace to the city of Shekem,
which is in the land of Kenaan, in his coming from
Padan Aram, and he abode near the face of the city.
And he bought the possession of the field where he had
spread his tent, of the hand of the sons of Hamor, the
father of Shekem, for a hundred lambs. And he raised
3 Or, “ prosper with thine own.” 4 Sam. Vera., “ Gabla.”
5 “Tabernacles.”
TARGUM OF ONKELOS
112
[chap.
there an altar, and offered service upon it before God,
the God of Israel.
XXXIV. And Dinah, the daughter of Leah, whom
she bare to Jakob, went forth to see the daughters of
the land. And Shekem bar Hamor the Hivite, the
prince of the land, saw her, and took her, and lay with
her, and humbled her. And his soul took pleasure in
Dinah the daughter of Jakob, and he loved the damsel,
and spake to the heart of the damsel. And Shekem
spake to Hamor his father, saying, Take to me this
damsel for a wife. And Jakob heard that he had pol¬
luted Dinah his daughter. And his sons were with his
flocks in the field ; and Jakob was silent until they were
come. And Hamor the father of Shekem came forth to
Jakob to speak with him. And the sons of Jakob came
up from the field when they heard. And the men were
indignant and very angry, because shame had been
wrought in Israel by his lying with the daughter of
Jacob; for so it should not have been done. And
Hamor spake with them, saying, The soul of Shekem my
son hath pleasure in your daughter ; give her now to
him to wife. And marry with us, and take our
daughters to you ; and the land shall be before you ;
inhabit and do business in it, and possess it. And
Shekem said to her father and to her brethren. Let me
find favour in your eyes, and what you shall tell me I
will give. Multiply upon me dowry and present, and I
will give as you may tell me ; but give me the damsel to
wife. And the sons of Jakob answered Shekem and
Hamor his father, and with subtlety they spake, because
he had defiled Dinah their sister. And they said to
them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to a
man uncircumcised ; for that (would be) a reproach to
us. Nevertheless in this we will agree with you, if you
will be as we are, by circumcising every male among
XXXIV.] ON GENESIS. ]13
you, and we will give our daughters to you, and your
daughters will we take to us, and will dwell with you
and be one people. But if you will not consent to us
to be circumcised, we will take our daughter and go.
And their words were pleasing in the eyes of Hamor,
and in the eyes of Shekem the son of Hamor. And the
young man delayed not to do the thing, because he
delighted in the daughter of Jakob, and he was more
honourable than all his father's house. And Hamor
came, and Shekem his son, to the gate of the city, and
spake to the men of the city, saying, These men are
friendly 6 with us, and they may dwell in the land, and
do business in it,7 and the land, behold, it is wide (on
both) hands before them ; their daughters we will take
to us for wives, and our daughters we will give to them.
Only in this will the men agree with us to dwell with
us, to be one people, in every male of us being circum¬
cised, as they are circumcised. Their flocks, and their
possessions, and all their cattle, will they not be ours ?
Only let us consent to them, and they will dwell with
us. And every one who went out of the gate of his
city received of Hamor and of Shekem his son, and they
were circumcised, every male, every one who went out
of the gate of his city. And it was on the third day,
when their pains were strong upon them,8 that the two
sons of Jakob, Shemeon and Levi, the brothers of
Dinah, took each man his sword, and came upon the
city, which dwelt in security, and slew every male, and
Hamor and Shekem his son they killed with the edge
of the sword. And they brought Dinah out of the
house of Shekem, and went. And the sons of Jakob
came up to the spoil of the slain, and sacked the town,
because they had defiled their sister. Their sheep, and
6 Shalemin. 7 Yabedun ba sechorta.
• Sam, Vers., “ when they were wounded,”
114 TAB-GUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
their oxen, and their asses, and all that was in the city
and the field, they took. And all their substance, and all
their little ones, and their wives, they captured and
spoiled, and all which was in the house. And Jakob
said to Shemeon and Levi, You have troubled me, in
putting strife between me and the inhabitants of the
land, the Kenaanites and the Perrezites, and I a people
(few) for number ; and they will gather against me,
and smite me, and I shall perish, I and the men of my
house. And they said, As with an outcast should he
deal with our sister ?
XXXY. And the Lord said to Jakob, Arise, go up
to Bethel, and dwell there, and make there an altar
unto Eloha,9 who appeared to thee when in thy flight from
before Esau thy brother. And Jakob said to the men
of his house, and to all who were with him, Put away
the gentile idols 1 that are among you, and purify ; and
change your raiment ; and we will arise and go up to
Bethel, and I will make there an altar unto Eloha,9 who
heard my prayer in the day of my distress, and whose
Word was my helper in the way that I went. And
they gave Jakob all the gentile idols that were in their
hands, and the jewels that were in their ears, and Jakob
hid them under the terebinth which was near Shekem.
And they journeyed ; and fear from before the Lord
was upon the peoples in the cities surrounding them ;
and they followed not after the sons of Jakob. And
Jakob came to Luz, which is in the land of Kenaan,
which is Bethel, he and all the people who were with
him. And he builded there an altar, and called the
place El Bethel, because the Angel of the Lord had
appeared to him there when he fled from before his
brother. And Deborah, the nurse of Bevekah, died,
9 Sam. Vers., “ the Most Mighty One.”
1 “ The idols of the peoples.”
XXXV.] ON GENESIS. 115
and was buried below Bethel, in the declivity of the
vale;2 and he called the name of it, The vale of
weeping.8
And the Lord appeared unto Jakob again when he
had come from Padan Aram, and blessed him. And
the Lord said to Jakob, Thy name shall be no more
Jakob, but Israel shall be thy name ; and he called his
name Israel. And the Lord said to him, I am El
Shadai ; increase and multiply ; a people and an
assemblage of tribes shall be from thee, and kings who
shall reign over the peoples shall come forth from thee.
And the land that I gave to Abraham and to Izhak I
will give unto thee, and to thy sons after thee, will I give
the land. And the glory of the Lord ascended above
him, in the place where He had spoken with him. And
Jakob erected a pillar in the place where He had spoken
with him, a pillar of stone, and outpoured libations upon
it, and poured oil thereon. And Jakob called the name
of the place where the Lord had spoken with him
Bethel. And they journeyed from Bethel, and there
was yet a space of land4 to come unto Ephrath ; and
Rahel travailed, and had hard (pain) in her frirtli-
labour. And as she travailed in her labour, the mid¬
wife said to her, Pear not, for also this to thee is a
son. And it was in the going forth of her soul, for she
died, that she called his name The son of my woe ;5 but
his father called him Benjamin.6 And Rahel died, and
was buried in the way of Ephrath, which is Beth-
Lechem. And Jakob erected a pillar upon her grave:
that is the pillar of the tomb of Rahel unto this day.
And Israel proceeded and spread his tabernacle
2 Shephuli misera. 3 Misar bekitha.
4 Literally, kerub araah , “ an acre of ground.” Some think that Icerub
araah means as much land as can be ploughed in a day ; a tract of ground.
5 Bar de-wai , 6 “ Son of the right hand.”
116 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
beyond the tower of Adar. And it was while Israel
dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay
with Bilhah, the concubine of his father. And Israel
heard it.
And the sons of Jakob were twelve. The sons of
Leah, the firstborn of Jakob, Reuben, and Shemeon,
and Levi, and Jehudah, and Issakar, and Zebulon. The
sons of Rahel, Joseph and Benjamin. The sons of
Bilhah, the handmaid of Rahel, Dan and Naphtali ; and
the sons of Zilpha, the handmaid of Leah, Gad and
Asher. These are the sons of Jakob, who were born to
him in Padan Aram. And Jakob came unto Tzhak his
father, unto Mamre, the city of Arba, which is Hebron ;
for Abraham and Izhak had dwelt there. And the
days of Izhak were an hundred and eighty years. And
Izhak expired and died, and was gathered unto his
people, old and content with days ; and Esau and J akob
his sons buried him.
XXXVI. And these are the generations of Esau, who
is Edom. Esau took his wives from the daughters of
Kenaan : Ada, daughter of Helon the Hittite, and
Ahalivama, the daughter of Ana, the daughter of
Sibeon the Hivite, and Basemath, the daughter of
Ishmael, the sister of Nebaioth. And Ada bare to
Esau Eliphaz ; and Basemath bare Rebel ; and Ahalivama
bare Jehus, and Jaalam, and Korach. These are the
sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of
Kenaan. And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and
his daughters, and all the souls of his house, and his
flocks, and all his cattle, and all his substance which he
had gotten in the land of Kenaan, and went into
another land from before J akob his brother ; because
their substance was too great for them to dwell together,
and the land of their habitation could not sustain them
with regard to their cattle. And Esau dwelt in the
117
XXXVI.] ON GENESIS.
mountain of Seir.7 Esau is Edom. And these are the
generations of Esau, the father of the Edomai, in the
mountain of Seir,7 these are the names of the sons of
Esau : Eliphaz, the son of Ada, the wife of Esau ; Reiiel,
son of Basemath, the wife of Esau. And the sons of
Eliphaz were Theman, Omar, Zepho, and Gaetam, and
Kenaz. And Thimna was the concubine of Eliphaz
bar Esau, and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek. These are
the sons of Ada, the wife of Esau. And these are the
sons of Reiiel, Nahath and Zara, Shamma and Meza.
These are the sons of Basemath, the wife of Esau.
And these are the sons of Ahalivama, the daughter of
Ana, the daughter of Zebeon, the wife of Esau ; and she
bare unto Esau Jehus, and Jaalam, andKorach. These
are the chiefs 8 of the sons of Esau. Of the sons of
Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau, Rabba Theman, Rabba
Omar, Rabba Zepho, Rabba Kenaz, Rabba Korach,
Rabba Gaetam, Rabba Amalek. These are the chiefs of
Eliphaz in the land of Edom ; these are the sons of
Ada. And these are the sons of Reiiel bar Esau : Rabba
Nachath, Rabba Zarach, Rabba Shamma, Rabba Meza.
These are the chiefs8 of Reiiel in the land of Edom ;
these are the sons of Basemath, the wife of Esau. And
these are the sons of Ahalivama, the wife of Esau :
Rabba Jehus, Rabba Jaalam, Rabba Korach. These
are the chiefs of Ahalivama, the daughter of Ana the
wife of Esau. These are the sons of Esau, and these
are their chieftains. He is Edom.
These are the sons of Seir, the Chorites,9 the in¬
habitants of the land, Lothan, and Shobal, and Zibeon,
and Ana, and Disbon, and Etser, and Dishan. These
are the chieftains of the Choraai, the sons of Seir, in
the land of Edom. And the sons of Loti were Hori and
7 Sam. Vers., " Gabla.”
9 Chor , “ a cavern in a mountain.”
Ravrevee.
118 TAKGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
Ilemaim, and the sister of Lotan was Tirana. And these
are the Beni Shobal, Alvan, and Manahath, and Ebal,
Shephi, and Onam. And these are the sons of Zebeon,
Aya and Ana ; he is Ana who found the giants 1 * 3 in the
desert while he tended the asses of his father Zibeon.
And these are the children of Ana, Dishon, and Ahali-
vama the daughter of Ana. And these are the sons of
Dishan : Hemdan, and Esliban, and Jethran, and
Keran. These are the sons of Etser : Bilan, and Zaavan,
and Akan. These are the sons of Dishan : Huts and
Aran. These are the chieftains of the Choraai : Rabba
Lotan, Rabba Shobal, Rabba Zebeon, Rabba Ana, Rabba
Dishon, Rabba Etser, Rabba Dishan. These are the
chieftains of the Choraai, according to their principalities
in the land of Seir.
And these are the kings who reigned in the land of
Edom, before that kings reigned among the sons of
Israel : Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom, and the
name of his city was Dinhava. And Bela died, and
instead of him reigned Yobab the son of Zerah of
Botsra. And Yobab died, and instead of him reigned
Husham, of the land of the south. And Husham
died, and instead of him reigned Hadad, the son of
Bedad, who slew the Median® in the fields of Moab ;
and the name of his city was Avith. And Hadad died,
and in his stead reigned Simlah of Masereka. And
Simlah died, and in his stead reigned Shaul of Recho-
voth,a which is on the Ph'rat. And Shaul died, and in
his stead reigned Baal-Chanan bar Akbor. And Baal-
Chanan bar Akbor died, and in his stead reigned Hadar,
and the name of his city was Pau ; and the name of
his wife Mehetavel, the daughter of Matered, the
1 Ith gibbaraia. Hebrew, ha yemim , “the mules.” The Sam. Vers,
has, am aimai, “ the Emim people.”
3 Sam. Vers., “ Pathe.”
XXXVII.] ON GENESIS. 119
daughter of a changer of gold.3 And these are the
names of the chieftains of Esau, after their kindreds, by
their places, with their names : Eabba Timna, Eabba
Alvah, Eabba Jetheth, Eabba Ahalivama, Eabba Elah,
Eabba Phinon, Eabba Kenez, Eabba Teman, Eabba
Mabzar, Eabba Magdiel, Eabba Iram : these are the
chieftains of Edom, after their habitations in the land
of their possessions. He is Esau, the father of the
Edomites.
SECTION IX.
VAYESHEV.
XXXVII. And Jakob dwelt in the land of the
habitation of his father, in the land of Kenaan. These
are the generations of Jakob. Joseph was a son of
seventeen years ; he kept the flock with his brothers ;
and he had been brought up with the sons of Bilhah,
and with the sons of Zilpha, the wives of his father ;
and Joseph brought their evil report to his father.
But Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because
he had in him a wise son, and he made him a varie¬
gated robe.4 And his brothers saw that their father
3 Bath Metsareph dahaha.
4 Or, ( Kitona da-passei ,) “ a robe of pieces,” i.e., coloured ones.
Hebrew, Ketonath passim. In the treatise Negaim xi. 7, we have
pispesin, “ small pieces.” Castel defines the Chaldee root pesa, “ to
expand,” and the Hebrew noun pisyona, “ extension.” Hence, some
would render Kitona da-passei, “ a long robe ; ” or, as Gesenius does
the Hebrew, “ a garment reaching down to the extremities.” Compare
Jonathan and the Jerusalem Targum on the verse. The Samaritan reads
as the Hebrew. The Peschito has Kutino da pedyotha , “ a fringed
garment ; ” the LXX., “ a various robe.”
120 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
loved him better than all his brethren, ancl they hated
him, and were not willing to speak with him peaceably.
And Joseph dreamed a dream, and showed it to his
brothers, and they hated him the more.5 Aud he said
to them. Hear now this dream which I have dreamed :
Behold, we were binding sheaves in the midst of the
field, and lo ! my sheaf arose and became upright, and,
behold, your sheaves stood around and worshipped my
sheaf. And his brothers said to him, Is it thy fancy
reigning to reign over us ? or a shultan, dost thou think
to govern us ? And they added yet to hate him for
his dreams and for his words. And he dreamed yet
another dream, and described it to his brothers, saying,
Behold, I have dreamed a dream again ; and lo, the sun,
and the moon, and eleven stars worshipped me. And he
described it to his father and to his brethren ; and his
father rebuked him6 and said to him, What dream is
this that thou hast dreamed ? Am I and thy mother
and thy brothers to come and worship thee on the
earth ? And his brothers envied him ; but his father
kept the word. And his brothers went to tend the flock
of their father in Shekem. And Israel said to Joseph,
Do not thy brothers tend the flock in Shekem ? Come,
I will send thee to them. And he said. Behold me.
And he said to him, Go now, and see the welfare of
your brothers and the welfare of the flock, and return
me word. And he sent him from the vale of Hebron,
and he came to Shekem. And a man found him, and,
behold, he wandered in the field. And the man
inquired of him, saying, Whom seekest thou ? And he
said, I look for my brothers : show me, I beseech thee,
where they feed. And the man said, They have gone
hence; for I heard them say, We will go to Dothan.
And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them
6 Sam. Vers., c< was angry with him.”
6 “ Added to hate him.”
ON GENESIS.
121
XXXVII.]
in Dothan. And they saw him from afar ; and before
he came nigh, they devised against him to kill him.
And they said, a man to his brother, Behold, this master
of dreams cometh. And now, come, we will kill him,
and cast him into one of the pits ; and will say an evil
beast hath devoured him, and we shall see what will
be the end of his dreams. And Reuben heard, and
delivered him out of their hands, and said, Let us not
slay his life. And Reuben said, Do not shed blood ;
cast him into this pit in the wilderness, but stretch not
forth a hand against him, — that he might deliver him
from their hands to bring him back to his father.
And it was when Joseph had come to his brethren that
they took off his robe, the variegated robe which was
upon him, and they took him and cast him into the
pit ; but the pit was empty, no water was in it. And
they reclined to eat bread. And they lifted up their
eyes and looked, and, behold, a band of Arabaee7 were
coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing spices,8
and resin,9 and myrrh,1 to go down to Mizraim. And
Jehuda said to his brethren. What gain2 should we
have by killing our brother and covering his blood ?
Come, and we will sell him to the Arabaee, and our
hand shall not be upon him; for he is our brother,
our flesh. And his brethren hearkened to him. And
there passed by Midianite men, (gabree Mid-ya-naee,)
merchants, and they drew and lifted up Joseph from
the pit, and sold Joseph to the Arabaee for twenty of
silver; and they brought Joseph into Mizraim. And
Reuben returned to the pit, and, behold, Joseph was not
7 Heb. and Sam., “ Ishmaelites.”
8 Sheaph, “balsam.” Heb. and Sam., nelcoth, “spicery.” LXX.,
“ perfumery.” Aquila, storax.
9 Quetapk, “gum.” Heb., tsere, probably opobalsamum.
1 Letom. Heb., lot, “ the gum of the cistus.” LXX., stacte.
3 Lit., “ "What mammon ? ”
G
122 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
in the pit. And he rent his clothes, and returned to
his brethren, and said, The youth is not ; and I, whither
shall I go ? But they took Joseph's robe, and killed
a kid of the goats, and dabbled the robe in the blood.
And they sent the variegated robe, and they brought to
their father, and said, This have we found ; know now
whether it is the robe of thy son, or not. And he
knew it, and said, It is my son's robe ; an evil beast
hath devoured him : slain, slain is Joseph ! And Jakob
rent his clothes, and wrapped sackcloth upon his loins,
and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons,
and all his house, arose to comfort him ; but he refused
to take comfort, and said, Bor I will go down unto my
son, mourning into Sheol. And his father wept for
him. And the Midianites sold him in Mizraim to
Potiphar, a prince of Pharoh, chief of the killers.
XXXVIII. And it was at that time that Jehuda went
down from his brethren, and turned aside to an Adulamite
man whose name was Hira. And Jehuda saw there
the daughter of a merchant man whose name was Shuva,
and he took her and went in with her ; and she conceived
and bare a son, and he called his name Her ; and she
conceived again, and bare a son, and called his name
Onan. And she added again, and bare a son, and
called his name Shelah ; and he was in Kezib when she
bare him. And Jehuda took a wife for Her his first¬
born, and her name was Tamar. And Her the first¬
born of Jehuda was evil before the Lord, and the Lord
caused him to die. And Jehuda said to Onan, Go in
with the wife of thy brother, and associate with her,
and raise up seed to thy brother. And Onan knew
that after his name the seed would not be called ;
and it was that when he went in with the wife of his
brother, he corrupted his way upon the earth that he
might not raise up seed unto his brother ; and what he
XXXVIII.] ON GENESIS. 123
did was evil before the Lord, and he caused him also to
die. And Jehuda said to Tamar his daughter-in-law,
Remain a widow in thy father's house until Shelah my
son be grown up. For he said, Lest he also die like
his brothers : and Tamar went and dwelt in her father's
house. And after many days the daughter of Shuva,
Jehuda's wife, died: and Jehuda was comforted; and
he went up to the shearers of his sheep, he and Hira
the Adulamite his friend unto Timnath. And it was
shown to Tamar, saying, Behold, thy father-in-law
cometh to Timnath to shear his sheep. And she laid
aside the dress of her widowhood, and covered herself
with a mantle (or a large veil), and adorned herself,3 and
sat in the dividing of Avnin 4 5 which is in the way to
Timnath. For she saw that Shelah had grown up, and
she had not been given to him for a wife. And Jehuda
saw her, and thought that she was an outcast, because
she had covered her face. And he declined to her by
the way, and said, Give me now to go in unto thee ; for
he did not knowT that she was his daughter-in-law.
And she said. What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest
come to me ? And he said, I will send thee a kid of
the goats from the flock. And she said, If thou wilt
give me a pledge until thou send. And he said,
What is the pledge that I shall give thee ? And she said,
Thy seal-ring, and thy scarf, 6 and thy staff that is in thy
hand. And he gave to her, and wrent in to her, and
she conceived by him. And she arose, and went, and
put off the veil from her, and dressed herself in the dress
of her widowhood. And Jehuda sent the kid of the
goats, by the hand of his friend the Adulamite, to receive
3 Sam. Vers., “changed herself.”
4 B\ pharashoth Aynin, “ in a conspicuous (?) branching of the road.”
The Sam. Vers, has, “ in the gate of Chasbim.”
5 Shoshejphy “ a handkerchief,” sudarium.
G 2
124 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
the pledge from the hand of the woman ; but he could
not find her. And he inquired of the men of the place,
saying, Where is the harlot who was in Aynin upon the
way ? And they said to him, There is no harlot here.
And he returned to Jehuda, and said, I could not find
her ; the men of the place also said there is no harlot
there. And Jehuda said, Let her take it to her, lest we
be in contempt : behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast
not found her. And it was three months, and it was
showed to Jehuda, saying, Tamar thy daughter-in-law
hath committed fornication, and, behold, she is with
child by fornication. And Jehuda said, Bring her out,
and let her be burned. And she was brought out.
And she sent to her father-in-law, saying, By the man
to whom these belong I am with child. And she
said, Acknowledge now, whose are these, the seal, the
scarf, and the staff? And Jehuda acknowledged and
said, She is justified in having conceived from me,
because I have not given her Shelah my son. And he
added not again to know her. And it was the time of
her giving birth, and, behold, twins were in her womb.
And it was in giving birth that one of them put forth a
hand ; and the midwife took and tied scarlet upon his
hand, saying, This came the first. And it was when he
had drawn back his hand that his brother came forth :
and she said, How much greater strength is with thee,
that thou hast prevailed ! And she called his name
Pharets. And afterwards came forth his brother who
had the crimson on his hand, and she called his name
Zarah.
XXXIX. But Joseph was brought down into Mizraim,
and Potiphar, a chief of Pharoh, a chief of the killers, a
Mizraite man, bought him from the hand of the Arabaee
who had brought him down thither. And the Word of
the Lord was the helper of Joseph, and he became a
ON GENESIS.
125
XXXIX.]
prosperous man, and was in tlie house of his Mizraite
master. And his master saw that the Word of the Lord
was his helper, and that all that he did the Lord prospered
in his hand. And Joseph found favour in his eyes,
and he served him. And he appointed him over his
house, and all that he had he delivered into his hand.
And it was from the time that he appointed him over
his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord
blessed the house of the Mizraite for Joseph's sake, and
the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had, in
the house and in the field. And he left all that
belonged to him in the hand of Joseph ; and he knew
of nothing that was with him, except the bread which
he ate. Now Joseph was of goodly appearance,
beautiful in aspect. And it was after these things
that the wife of his master lifted up her eyes to Joseph,
and said. Lie with me. But he refused, and said to his
master's wife. Behold, my master knoweth not what is
with me in the house, and all that he hath he hath
delivered unto my hand ; there is no one in this house
greater than I, and he hath not prohibited anything
from me but thyself, because thou art his wife : and how
can I do this great wickedness and become guilty before
the Lord ? And it was when she spake with Joseph daily
that he would not hearken to her to lie with her, or be
with her. And it was about this day that he came into
the house to examine the writings of his affairs, and no
man of the men of the house was there in the house.
And she laid hold of his garments, saying, Lie with me.
But he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and went
forth into the street. And she called to the men of her
house, and spake to them, saying, See, he brought us a
Hebrew man to mock at us. He came in to me to lie
with me ; and I cried with a high voice. And it w'as
w'hen he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, h
126 TARGUM OP ONKELOS [CHAP.
left his robe with me, and fled and went forth into the
street. And she let his robe remain with her until his
master came into his house. And she spake with him
these words, saying, The Hebrew servant whom thou
broughtest us came in to me to mock at me. And it was
when I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his robe
with me and fled into the street. And when his master
heard the words of his wife which she spake with him,
saying, According to these things hath thy servant done
to me, his anger waxed strong, and his master took
Joseph, and delivered him to the house of the bound,
where the prisoners of the king were bound ; and he
was there in the house of the bound. But the Word
of the Lord was the helper of Joseph, and showed him
mercy, and gave him favour in the eyes of the captain
of the prison. And the captain of the prison gave into
the hand of Joseph all the prisoners who were in the
house of the bound, and all that they did there was done
according to his word. The captain of the prison saw
no fault in his hand, because the Word of the Lord
was his helper, and that which he did the Lord made to
prosper.
XL. And after these things the cup-bearer and the
baker of the king of Mizraim offended their master,
the king of Mizraim. And Pharoh was angry with
two of his chiefs, with the chief of the cupbearers and
with the chief of the bakers. And he gave them into
ward in the house of the cnptain of the executioners
(killers) in the house of the prison, the place where
Joseph was confined. And the captain of the exe¬
cutioners appointed Joseph with them, and he minis¬
tered to them, and they were certain days in ward.
And they dreamed a dream, both of them, each man his
dream in one night, each man according to the interpre¬
tation of his dream, the cupbearer and the baker of the
ON GENESIS.
127
XL.]
king of Mizraim, who were confined in the house of the
bound. And Joseph came to them in the morning, and
saw them, and, behold, they were melancholy. And he
asked the chiefs of Pliaroh who were with him in ward,
in his master's house, saying, Why are your faces evil
to-day ? And they said to him, We have dreamed a
dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph
said to them, Are not interpretations from before the
Lord ? Relate it now to me. And the chief of the
cupbearers related his dream to Joseph, and said to
him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me, and in
the vine were three branches : and it was, as it sprouted,
it produced buds, and, having flowered, ripened clusters
of grapes. And the cup of Pharoh was in my hand ;
and I took grapes and expressed them into Pharoh' s
cup, and gave the cup into Pharoh' s hand. And Joseph
said to him, This is the interpretation : the three
branches are three days. At the end of three days,
Pharoh will remember thee6 and restore thee to thy
service, and thou wilt give the cup into Pharoh's hand,
according to thy former custom when thou wast cup¬
bearer to him. But let remembrance of me be with
thee when it shall be well with thee, and do me favour,
I beseech thee, and remember me before Pharoh, and
deliver me from this prison. Por I was verily taken by
fraud from the land of the Hivraee, and here have I done
nothing evil that I should be imprisoned. And when
the master of the bakers saw that he had interpreted
pleasantly, he said to Joseph, I also (was) in my dream,
and, behold, three baskets of confectionery7 were upon
my head, and in the upper basket were all (sorts of)
food for Pharoh, the work of the baker ; and the birds
ate them from the basket that was on my head. And
6 Sam. Vers., “ will take up thy reckoning, or account.”
7 Cheiru, (Heb., chori ,) “ white bread.”
128 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
Joseph answered and said. This is the interpretation of
it : The three baskets are three days ; at the end of
three days will Pharoh remove thy head from off thee,
and will hang thee upon a gibbet, and the birds will eat
thy flesh from off thee. And it was on the third day,
the day of the nativity of Pharoh, that he made a feast
for all his servants, and he took the head8 of the chief
cupbearer and the head8 of the chief of the bakers in
the midst of his servants. And he restored the chief
cupbearer to his office, and he gave the cup into
Pharoh's hand. And the chief of the bakers he
hanged, as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet the
chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgat
him.
SECTION X.
Y A YE HI MEKETS.
And it was at the end of two years that Pharoh
dreamed, and, behold, he stood by the River. And,
behold, there came up from the River seven oxen, goodly
in appearance, and fat-fleshed ; and they grazed in the
meadow.9 And, behold, seven other oxen came up
from the river after them, evil in appearance, and lean-
fleshed ; and they stood beside them by the bank of the
river. And the evil-looking and lean-fleshed oxen ate
up the seven well-looking and fat ones : and Pharoh
awoke. And he slept, and dreamed a second (time) ;
and, behold, seven ears rose up from one stalk, large
and good, and, behold, seven ears, thin, and blighted
8 Sara. Vers., ** the account.” 9 Or, “ sedge.”
ON GENESIS.
129
XLI.]
(with the) east (wind), sprang up after them. And the
seven wasted ears devoured the seven large and full
ears. And Pharoli awoke, and, behold, a dream. And
when it was morning his spirit was troubled, and he
sent and called all the magicians 1 of Mizraim, and all
the wise men ; 3 and Pharoh related the dreams to them,
but they could not interpret them to Pharoh. And the
chief of the cupbearers spake to Pharoh, saying, My
faults I do remember this day. Pharoh was displeased
with his servants, and gave me into custody at the
house of the chief executioner, and the chief baker with
me. And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he,
each man according to the interpretation of his dream,
we dreamed. And with us there was a Hebrew youth,
a servant of the chief executioner ; and we recounted to
him, and he explained to us our dreams, to each man
according to his dream he explained ; and according as
he had explained to us, so it was : me he restored to
my service, and him he hanged. And Pharoh sent, and
called Joseph, and made him hasten from the prison ;
and he dressed his hair,3 and changed his garments, and
came unto Pharoh. And Pharoh said to Joseph, I
have dreamed a dream, and there is no one to interpret
it. And I have heard of thee, saying, that thou hearest
a dream, and dost interpret it. And Joseph answered
Pharoh, saying, Not from my wisdom, but from before
the Lord, will there be an answer of peace unto Pharoh.
And Pharoh spake with Joseph, saying. In my dream,
behold, I stood upon the bank of the River; and,
behold, from the River rose up seven oxen, fat-fleshed
and goodly in appearance, and they grazed in the mea¬
dow.4 And, behold, seven other oxen came up after
them, lean and most evil in appearance, so wanting in
1 Harashee. 2 HaJcimaha. 3 Yesafir — attonsus est .
4 Or, “ sedge.”
130 TAUGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
flesh, that their like I have not seen in all the land of
Mizraim for badness. And the lean oxen and evil ones
ate up the seven first fat oxen. And they entered into
their stomachs ; but it could not be known that they had
entered into their stomachs, for their appearance was
bad as before ; and I awoke. I saw in my dream, and,
behold, seven ears of corn arose on one stalk, full and
good. And, behold, seven (other) ears, hard, thin, and
blasted (with the) east (wind), sprang up after them.
And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears. And
I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who
could show it to me. And Joseph answered Pharoh,
The dream of Pharoh is one. That which the Lord is
about to do He hath showed to Pharoh. The seven
good oxen are seven years ; and the seven good ears of
corn are seven years ; the dream is one. And the seven
lean and evil oxen which came up after them are seven
years ; and the seven ears, thin, and blasted with the east
wind, are seven years of famine. This is the word
which I have spoken to Pharoh. What the Lord is
about to do, He hath showed to Pharoh. Behold, there
come seven years of great plenty in all the land of Miz¬
raim. And after them will arise seven years of famine,
and all the plenty in the land of Mizraim will be for¬
gotten, and the famine will consume the people of the
land. And plenty will not be known in the land for
that famine which will be afterward ; for it will be very
mighty. And forasmuch as the dream was repeated to
Pharoh twice, it is a confirmed thing before the Lord,
and the Lord will hasten to do it. And now let Pharoh
look out a prudent and wise man, and appoint him over
the land of Mizraim. Let Pharoh do this, and appoint
officers (lit., faithful men) over the land, and let them
sow the land of Mizraim in the seven years of plenty,
and collect all the produce of those good years that
ON GENESIS.
131
XLI.]
come, and lay up provision under the hand of Pharoh's
officers, and preserve it in the cities : and it will be
provision for the people of the land in the seven years
of famine that are coming in the land of Mizraim, that
the people of the land may not be consumed by the
famine. And the thing was good in the eyes of
Pharoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. And
Pharoh said to his servants, Can we find a man like
this, in whom is the spirit of prophecy from the Lord ?
And Pharoh said to Joseph, Since the Lord hath made
all this known to thee, there is none more prudent or
wise than thou ; thou shalt be appointed over my house,
and by thy word shall all my people be governed ;5 only
in the throne of this kingdom will I be more honourable
than thou. And Pharoh said to Joseph, See, I have
appointed thee over all the land of Mizraim. And
Pharoh took off his ring from his hand, and set it upon
Joseph's hand, and clothed him in a robe of lawn,6 and
put a chain of gold upon his neck. And he made him
ride in his own second chariot/ and they proclaimed
before him, This is the father of the king ; 8 and he
appointed him over all the land of Mizraim. And
Pharoh said to Joseph, I am Pharoh ; and without thy
word shall no man lift np his hand to hold a weapon,
nor his foot to mount a horse, in all the land of Miz¬
raim. And Pharoh called the name of Joseph, The
man to whom mysteries are revealed.9 And he gave
him Asenath, the daughter of Poti Phera,1 prince of
On, to be his wife; and Joseph went forth ruling
over the land of Mizraim. And Joseph was a son
of thirty years when he stood before Pharoh, king
5 Sam. Vers., “ be fed.” 6 Butz, byssus.
7 Sam. Vers., “ double chariot.” 8 Been aba lemalka,
9 Sam. Vers., Temirthi gala , “ The Revealer of mysteries.”
1 Sam. Vers., “ the daughter of the Koheu Potiphera.”
132
TARGUM OF ONKELOS
[CHAP.
of Mizraim. And Joseph went out from before
Pharoh, and passed through all the land of Mizraim.
And the inhabitants of the land collected in the
seven years of plenty the provision into granaries.
And he collected all the provision of the seven years
which was in the land of Mizraim, and laid up the pro¬
vision in cities, in the midst of each city the provision
of the land surrounding it. And Joseph gathered pro¬
vision as the sand of the sea, exceeding much, until he
ceased to number, for it was without number. And
unto Joseph were born two sons, (before the year of
famine came,) which Asenath, daughter of Potiphera,
prince of On, bare to him. And Joseph called the
name of the firstborn Menasheh ; 2 because the Lord
hath made me to forget all my labour and all my
father’s house. And the name of the second he called
Eph-ra-im ;3 because the Lord hath made me to increase
in the land of my servitude. And the seven years of
plenty which were in the land of Mizraim were com¬
pleted. And the seven years of famine began to come,
as Joseph had said ; and the famine was in all the
lands, but in all the land of Mizraim there was bread.
Yet all the land of Mizraim was famished, and the
people cried before Pharoh for bread : and Pharoh said
to all the Mizraee, Go unto Joseph, and what he shall
say to you, do. And the famine was over all the face
of the land ; and Joseph opened all the granaries in
which was the corn, and sold to the Mizraee, and the
famine became mighty in the land of Mizraim. And all the
inhabitants of the earth came into Mizraim to buy corn of
Joseph, because the famine was mighty in all the earth.
XLII. And Jakob saw that corn was sold in Mizraim,
and Jakob said to his sons, Why look you (on each other)?4
3 From nashah, “to forget.” 3 Yrom pharah, "to be fruitful.”
4 Lama tithchazun.
ON GENESIS.
133
XLII.]
And he said, Behold, I have heard that corn is sold in
Mizraim : go down thither, and buy us from thence,
and we shall live, and not die. And the ten brothers
of Joseph went down to buy corn from Mizraim ; but
Benjamin, the brother of Joseph, Jakob sent not with
his brethren ; for he said, Lest death should befall him.
And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among them
who came ; for the famine was in the land of Kenaau.
And Joseph, who was ruler over the land, was he who
sold the corn to all the people of the earth. And the
brothers of Joseph came, and bowed before him with
their faces upon the ground. And Joseph saw his
brothers, and knew them, and considered what he
should say to them. And he spake with them severely,
and said to them. Whence come you ? And they said.
From the land of Kenaan, to buy corn. And Joseph
knew his brothers, but they did not know him. And
Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed
of them ; and he said to them, You are spies ; to see
the ruin 5 of the land are you come. And they said,
No, my lord, (: ribboni ,) thy servants are come to buy corn.
We are all the sons of one man. Right (men) are we ;
thy servants are not spies. But he said to them. No, but
you are come to see the ruin of the land. And they
said, Thy servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one
man, in the land of Kenaan ; and, behold, the youngest
is with our father to-day, and one is not ! And Joseph
said to them. That is what I have told you, saying, You
are spies ; by this you shall be proved : by the life of
Pharoh you shall not go hence, until your youngest
brother be come hither. Send one of you, and bring
your brother; but you shall be bound, and your words
shall be proved, whether you have spoken the truth ; if
not, by the life of Pharoh, you are spies. And he put
5 Sam. Vers., “ the shame of the land.”
134 TARGUM or ONKELOS [CHAP.
them in the house of custody three days. And Joseph
said to them the third day. This do, and live; for I
fear before the Lord. If you be true, let one of your
brethren be bound in the prison ; and go you, carry the
provision which is needed in your house, and bring
your youngest brother to me, and your words will be
verified, and you shall not die. And they did so. And
they said, a man to his brother, We are verily guilty
concerning our brother ; that we saw the anguish of his
soul, when he implored us, and we would not hearken
to him : therefore is this distress come upon us. And
Reuben answered them, saying, Did not I tell you,
saying. Do not sin against the youth? but you would
not hearken. Thus, behold, his blood is required.
But they knew not that Joseph heard ; for there was
an interpreter between them. And he turned himself
away from them, and wept. And he returned and
spake to them, and took Shemeon from them, and
bound him before their eyes. And Joseph commanded
to fill their vessels with corn, and return their money
(that of each) man in his sack, and give them food in
the way. And he did so by them. And they laid
their corn upon their asses, and went thence. And one
opened his sack to give provender to his ass at the
house of lodging,6 and saw his money, and, behold, it
was in the mouth of his package ; and he said to his
brothers, My money is returned, and, behold, it is in
my package. And the knowledge of their hearts failed,
and they were each of them confounded, saying. What
is this which the Lord hath done to us ? And they
came to Jakob their father in the land of Kenaan, and
showed him all that had happened to them, saying, The
man, the lord of the country, spoke hardly with us, and
dealt with us as spies of the land. And we told him,
8 Beth mebatha.
XL1II.] ON GENESIS. 135
We are true men, not spies : we are twelve brothers,
sons of one father : one is not, and the youngest is to¬
day with our father in the land of Kenaan. And the
man, the lord of the country, said to us, By this I shall
know that you are true men. Leave one of your breth¬
ren with me, and take the corn which is needed in
your house, and go, and bring your youngest brother
to me, and I shall know that you are not spies : and
when you (will be proved to) be true men, I will give
up your brother to you, and you shall trade in the land.
And it was, as they emptied their sacks, behold, each
man's money was bound up in his sack ; and when they
and their father saw the envelopes of their money, they
were afraid. And Jakob their father said to them, Me
have you made desolate; Joseph is not, and Shemeon
is not (here), and Benjamin you would take away ;
upon me are all these ! And Beuben spake with his
father, saying, Thou shalt put my two children to death
if I do not bring him back to thee. Deliver him into
my hand, and I will return him to thee. But he said,
My son shall not go down with you ; for his brother is
dead, and he alone remains ; and if death should befall
him in the way in which you will go, you will bring
down my grey hairs with mourning unto Sheol.
XLIII. But the famine prevailed in the land. And
it was when they had ended to eat the corn which they
had brought from Mizraim, that their father said to
them, Eeturn, and buy for us a little corn. And Jehuda
spake to him, saying, The man attesting attested to us,
saying, You shall not see my face unless your brother
be with you. If thou wilt send our brother with us,
we will go down and buy thee corn ; but if thou wilt
not send, we will not go down : for the man told us,
You shall not see my face unless your brother be with
you. And Israel said, Why did you do me this evil,
136 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
in showing the man that you have a brother ? And
they said, The man asking asked us concerning our
family,7 saying, Is your father yet alive? Have you a
brother ? And we showed him according to the word
of these things : knowing could we know that he
would say, Bring your brother to me ? And Jehuda
said to Israel his father, Send the youth with me, and
let us arise and go, that we may live and not die, we,
and thou, and our little ones. I will be the pledge for
him ; of my hand shalt thou require him ; if I do not
bring him back to thee, and set him before thee, let
mine be the sin with thee all the days. Bor except we
had delayed in this, we might now have returned twice.
And Israel their father said to them, If then it is to be,
do this : take of what is praiseworthy 8 in the land in
your vessels, and carry down to the man an offering; a
little gum, and a little honey, storax and ladanum,
nuts and almonds ; and silver, two for one take in your
hands, even the silver which was returned in the mouth
of your bags take back in your hands ; perhaps it was
an oversight. And take your brother, and arise, return
to the man ; and God the Almighty give you favour
before the man, that he may release to you your other
brother and Benjamin. And I, when desolated, shall be
desolate ! And the men took that offering, and the
money two for one took they in their hands ; and they
took Benjamin, and arose, and went down into Mizraim,
and stood before Joseph. And Joseph saw Benjamin
with them ; and he said to him who was appointed over
his house, Bring the men into the house, and kill a
killing9 and prepare; for the men shall eat with me at
dinner. And the man did as Joseph had said; and the
man brought the men into Joseph's house. And the
7 “ Our generation.” 8 Medimsliabach. Sam. Vers., “ celebrated.”
9 Or, “a victim,” niksatha.
XLIII.] ON GENESIS. 137
men were afraid because they were brought into the
house of Joseph ; and said, It is on account of the
money that was returned in our baggage at first, that
we are brought in, that he might domineer over us,10
and find occasion against us, and take possession of us
as slaves, and seize upon our asses. And they drew
near the man who was set over Joseph’s house, and
spake with him at the gate of the house, and said. We
entreat my lord (to hear us). Descending we came
down at first to buy corn. And it was while we were
at the resting-place, we opened our baggage, and,
behold, a man's silver was in the mouth of the bag; the
silver in its weight. But we have returned it in our
hand. And other silver have we brought in our hand
to buy corn. We knew not who put the silver in our
baggage. And he said, Peace be to you: fear not;
your God, and the God of your father, gave you trea¬
sure in your bags ; your money came to me. And he
brought out Shemeon to them. And the man brought
the men into Joseph's house, and gave water, and they
washed their feet, and he gave provender for their asses.
And they made ready the offering against the entrance
of Joseph to dinner : for they had heard that there they
were to eat bread. And Joseph entered the house,
and they brought to him the offering which was in their
hands into the house ; and they bowed to him upon the
ground. And he saluted them,11 and said. Is your father
well, the old man you spake of ? Is he yet alive ? And
they said. It is well with thy servant our father, he is
yet alive ; and they bowed and worshipped. And he
lifted up his eyes, and saw Benjamin his brother, the
son of his mother ; and he said, Is this your youngest
brother of whom you spake to me ? And he said,
10 Sam. Vers., “lord it over us.”
11 Lit., “ asked for their peace.”
138 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
Mercy from the Lord be upon thee, my son.1 And
Joseph made haste, for his bowels were commoved over
his brother, and he sought (where) to weep ; and he
entered into the chamber, the place of sleeping, and
wept there. And he washed his face, and came out,
and was comforted, and said, Put on bread ; and they
set for him alone, and for them alone, and for the
Mizraee who ate with him, alone. Por the Mizraee
might not eat bread with the Hivraee, because the ani¬
mals that the Mizraee worshipped the Hivraee did eat.
And they reclined before him, the chief according to
his chiefship, and the less according to his minority ;
and the men wondered, each man at his companion.
And portions were brought from him, and set before
them, and greater was Benjamin's portion than the por¬
tions of them all, five portions. And they drank and
were merry with him.2
XL1Y. And Joseph commanded the steward of his
house, saying, Fill the men's bags with corn as much
as they can carry, and put each man's money in the
mouth of his baggage. And put my cup, the silver
cup, in the mouth of the youngest one's baggage, and
his purchase-money. And he did according to Joseph's
word which he spake. The morning lightened, and the
men were sent away, they and their asses. They had
not gone far from the city, when Joseph said to him
who was set over his house, Arise, follow after the men,
and overtake them, and say to them, Why have you
rendered evil for good ? Is it not this from which my
lord drinketh, and, behold, by which inquiring he
inquireth ? 3 You have done the thing that is evil.
And he overtook them, and spake with them these
1 Sain. Vers., “ Elohim be propitious to thee, my son.”
2 Lit., “ were drunken.” Sam. Vers., “ were heavy.”
3 Budaqa mebadiq.
XLIY.] ON GENESIS. 139
words. And they said, Why does my lord speak these
words ? Be it far from thy servants to do according to
this thing ! Behold, the money which we found in the
mouth of our baggages we brought to thee again from
the land of Kenaan ; how then should we steal from the
house of thy lord vessels of silver, or vessels of gold ?
With whomsoever of thy servants it is found, let him
die; and we also will be servants to my lord. And he
said, According to your words, so let it be. With
whomsoever it is found, he shall be my servant, but you
will be acquitted. And they made haste, and brought
down every man his baggage to the ground ; and every
man opened his baggage. And he searched, beginning
with the greatest and finishing with the least ; and the
chalice was found in the baggage of Benjamin. And
they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass,
and returned to the city. And Jehuda entered and
his brothers into Joseph's house, for he was still there;
and they fell before him on the ground. And Joseph
said to them, What work is this which you have done ?
Did you not know that a man like me divining can
divine? And Jehuda said to him. What shall we say
to my lord ? What shall we speak ? How shall we be
justified? Before the lord there is sin found in thy
servants. Behold, we are the servants of my lord;
we also and he in whose hand the chalice hath been
found. But he said, Bar be it from me to do so : the
man in whose hand the chalice has been found shall be
my servant ; but go you up in peace to your father.
140
TARGUM OF ONKELOS
[chap.
SECTION XI.
YAYIGGASH ALAIF YEHUDAH.
And Jehuda came near to him and said, We beseech
my lord, let thy servant speak a word before my lord,
and let not thine anger be great with thy servant ; for
as Pharoh so art thou. My lord asked his servants,
saying, Have you a father or a brother ? And we told
my lord. We have an aged father, and the youngest
(son) is the son of his old age; his brother is dead;
and he only remains of his mother, and his father loves
him. And thou saidst to thy servants, Bring him
down to me, and let me set mine eyes upon him. And
we told my lord, His father cannot part with the youth ;
for if our father should part with him, he would die.
And thou saidst to thy servants, If your youngest
brother come not down with you, you shall not see my
face again. And it was when we had gone up to our
father, we told him these words of my lord. And our
father said to us, Return, and buy us a little corn. And
we said, We cannot go down : if our youngest brother go
down with us, we will go down ; for we shall not be
able to see the man’s face unless our youngest brother
go down with us. And thy servant our father said to
us. You know that my wife bare me two (sons). One
went forth from me, and I have said, Dying he is dead ;
and I have not beheld him since. And if you take
this one also from me, and deatli happen to him, you
will bring down my age with evil unto sheol. And
now, when I come to thy servant my father, and the
youth be not with us, and his soul loveth him as his
(own) soul ; when he seeth that the youth is not with
us, he will die ; and thy servant will have brought down
ON GENESIS.
141
XLV.]
the age of thy servant our father with mourning unto
Sheol. For thy servant was surety for the youth with our
father, saying, If I bring him not to thee, let my father
hold me guilty all the days. And now let thy servant
remain instead of the youth, as the servant of my lord,
and let the youth go up with- his brothers. For how
can I go up to my father, and the youth be not with
me ? — lest I should see the evil that will come upon my
father !
XLY. And Joseph was not able to sustain all that
was being upon him ; and he cried, Let every man go
out from me ; and no man stood with him, while J oseph
made himself known to his brethren. And he gave
forth his voice with weeping ; and the Mizraee heard,
and a man of PharolFs house heard. And Joseph said
to his brothers, I am Joseph ! Is my father yet living?
And his brethren were not able to answer him a word,
for they were confounded before him. And Joseph said
to his brothers, Come near now to me. And they
came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother,
whom you sold into Mizraim. And now do not be
troubled,4 and let it not be afflictive in your eyes that
you sold me hither ; for to sustain life did the Lord
send me before you. For these two years hath famine
been in the land, and there are yet five years in which
there will be neither seed nor harvest. And the Lord
sent me before you to set a remnant in the earth, and
to keep you alive by a great deliverance. And now, it
was not you who sent me hither, but (it was) from
before the Lord, who hath set me to be a father 5 unto
Pharoh, and to rule all the men of his house, holding
power over all the land of Mizraim. Hasten, (then,)
and go up to my father, and say to him, Thus saith thy
son Joseph, The Lord hath set me ruler over the
4 Sam. Vers., “be not afflicted.” 5 Sam. Vers., “a friend.”
142 TAItGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
Mizraim : come clown to me, delay 6 not, and thous halt
dwell in the land of Goshen, and be near me, thou, and
thy sons, and thy sons' children, and thy sheep and thy
oxen, and all that thou hast. And I will nourish thee 7
there ; for there are yet five years of famine, lest thou,
and the men of thy house, and all that thou hast, be
wasted away. And, behold, your eyes see, and the
eyes of my brother Benjamin, that in your language I
speak with you. And you will show my father all my
glory in Mizraim, and all that you see ; and make
haste, and bring down my father hither. And he fell
upon the neck of Benjamin his brother, and wept ; and
Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his
brothers, and wept over them ; and afterward his bro¬
thers discoursed with him. And a voice was heard in
the house of Pharoh, saying. The brothers of Joseph
are come. And it was pleasing in the eyes of Pharoh,
and in the eyes of his servants. And Pharoh said to
Joseph, Tell my brethren, Do this ; lade your beasts
and go ; carry into the land of Kenaan ; and take
your father and the men of your house and come to
me, and I will give you the good of the land of Miz¬
raim, and you shall eat the good of the land. And
(now) thou art commanded, this do. Take to you out
of the land of Mizraim waggons for your children, and
your wives ; and bring your father, and come. And let
not your eye look wistfully upon your furniture ; for the
good of all the land of Mizraim is your own. And the
sons of Israel did so ; and Joseph gave them waggons,
according to the word of Pharoh, and he gave them
provisions for the way. And he gave to every one of
them vestments for wearing ; and to Benjamin gave he
three hundred shekels of silver, and five vestments for
6 Sam. Vers., “ stand not.”
7 Sain. Vers., “ I will give thee sufficiency.”
XLVI.] ON GENESIS. 143
wearing. And to his father he sent ten asses laden
with the good things of Mizraim, and ten she-asses
laden with corn, and bread and provisions for the way.
And he dismissed his brethren, and they went, and he
said to them, Do not contend by the way. And they
went up from Mizraim and came into the land of
Kenaan, unto Jakob their father. And they showed
him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he ruleth over all
the land of Mizraim ! And these words were uncertain 8
upon his heart, because he did not believe them. And
they told him all the words of Joseph which he had
spoken with them ; and he saw the waggons that
Joseph had sent to fetch him; and the Holy Spirit
rested upon Jakob their father. And Israel said. Great
to me is the joy ! Joseph my son is yet alive ; I will
go, and behold him before I die.
XLVI. And Israel journeyed, and all that he had,
and came to Beershava; and he offered sacrifices to the
God of his father Izhak. And the Lord spake to Israel
in a vision of the night, and said, Jakob, Jakob. And
he said, Behold, I am. And He said, I am God, the
God of thy father : fear not to go down into Mizraim ;
for a great people will I make thee there. I will go
down with thee into Mizraim, and will surely bring
thee up ; but Joseph shall lay his hand upon thine eyes.
And Jakob arose from Beershava. And the sons of
Israel carried Jakob their father, and their children,
and their wives, in the waggons which Pharoh had sent
to fetch them. And they took their flocks and their
substance which they had gotten in the land of Kenaan,
and came to Mizraim, Jakob and all his sons with him.
His sons, and his son's sons with him, his daughters,
and the daughters of his sons, and all his seed, he
brought with him into Mizraim.
* Or, “faint.”
144 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
And these are the names of the sons of Israel which
came into Mizraim, Jakob and his sons. The firstborn
of Jakob, Reuben. And the sons of Reuben, IJanuk
and Phallu, Hesron and Karmi. And the sons of
Sheemon, Jemuel, and Janin, and Ahad, and Jakin, and
Zochar, and Shaul, the son of a Kenaanitha. And the
sons of Levi, Gershon, Kehath, and Merari. And the
sons of Jehuda, Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharets,
and Zarach. But Er and Onan had died in the land
of Kenaan. And the sons of Pharets, Heshron and
Chamul. And the sons of Issakar, Tola, and Pheua,
and Job, and Semeron. And the sons of Zabulon,
Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel. These are the sons of
Leah, which she bare to Jakob in Padan Aram, and
Dinah his daughter ; all the souls, his sons and his
daughters, thirty and three. And the children of Gad,
Sephyon and Haggi, Shuni and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi,
and Areli. And the sons of Asher, Jemna, and Jesva,
and Jesvi, and Beriah, and Serach, their sister. And
the sons of Beriah, Heber and Malchiel. These are the
sons of Zilpha, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter;
and she bare these unto Jakob, sixteen souls. The
sons of Rahel, the wife of Jakob, Joseph and Benjamin.
And to Joseph were born in the land of Mizraim
Menashe and Ephraim, whom Asenath, daughter of
Potiphera, prince of On, bare unto him. And the sons
of Benjamin, Bela, and Bek or, and Ashbel, Gera, and
Naaman, Achi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huphim, and
Arede. These are the sons of Rahel which were born
to Jakob; all the souls fourteen. And the sons of
Dan, Hushim : and the sons of Naphtali, Jahziel,
and Guni, and Jezer, and Shilem. These are the
children of Billah, whom Laban gave to Rahel his
daughter, and she bare them to Jakob ; all the souls
seven. All the souls which went with Jakob into
XLVII.] ON GENESIS. 145
Mizraim, which came forth from his loins, besides the
wives of Jakob's sons, all the souls, sixty and six. And
the sons of Joseph, which were born to him in Mizraim,
two souls. All the souls of the house of Jakob which
went into Mizraim were seventy.
And he sent Jehuda before him to Joseph, to make
the way clear before him at Goshen, and he came to
the land of Goshen. And Joseph arrayed his chariot,
and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. And
he saw him, and fell upon his neck, and wept. And he
wept still upon his neck ! And Israel said to J oseph, I
could die at this time ! I have consolation now that I
have seen thy face ; for thou art yet alive. And Joseph
said to his brothers, and to the house of his father, I
will go up and show Pharoh, and will tell him. My
brethren and. the house of my father, who were in the
land of Kenaan, have come to me. But the men are
shepherds of sheep : for the men are masters of flocks,
and their sheep and oxen and all that they have they
have brought. And it shall be when Pharoh calleth
you, and shall ask you, What is your employment ? you
will say, Thy servants have been men, the masters of
flocks from our youth until now ; both we and our
fathers : that you may dwell in the land of Goshen ;
because the Mizraee keep at a distance all shepherds of
flocks.
XLVII. And Joseph came and showed Pharoh, and
said. My father and my brethren, and their sheep and
their oxen, and all that they have, are come from the
land of Kenaan, and, behold, they are in the land of
Goshen. And of the extreme 9 of his brethren he took
five men, and made them stand before Pharoh. And
Pharoh said to his brethren. What are your employ¬
ments ? And they said to Pharoh, Thy servants are
9 Of the entire number comprised between the first and last ?
H
146 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
shepherds ; both we and our fathers. And they said to
Pharoh, To dwell in the land are we come, for there is
no pasture for thy servants' flocks ; for the famine pre¬
vails in the land of Kenaan, and we pray thee let thy
servants dwell in the land of Goshen. And Pharoh
spake to Joseph, saying, Thy father and thy brethren
are come to thee ; the land of Mizraim is before thee,
in the best of it let thy father and thy brethren dwell,
(even) in the land of Goshen : and if thou know any
of them to be men of ability, appoint them to be chiefs
over my flocks. And Joseph brought Jakob his father,
and presented him before Pharoh : and Jakob blessed
Pharoh. And Pharoh said to Jakob, How many are
the days of the years of thy life ? And Jakob said to
Pharoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are a
hundred and thirty years. Pew and evil have been the
days of the years of my life, and I have not attained to
the days of the years of the life of my fathers, in the
days of their pilgrimage. And Jakob blessed Pharoh,
and went out from before Pharoh. And Joseph made
his father and his brethren to dwell, and gave them a
possession in the land of Mizraim, in the best of the
land, in the land of Ramesis, as Pharoh had com¬
manded. And Joseph sustained1 his father and his
brethren, and all the house of his father, with bread,
according to the mouth of the family (of each). And
there was no bread in all the land ; for the famine pre¬
vailed greatly, and the people of the land of Mizraim
and the people of the land of Kenaan failed before the
famine. And J oseph collected all the money which was
found in the land of Mizraim and in the land of
Kenaan, for the corn which they bought. And Joseph
brought the money into the house of Pharoh. And
the money wras finished from the land of Mizraim and
1 Sam. Vers., "sufficiently fed.”
XLYII.] ON GENESIS. 147
from the land of TCenaan ; and all the Mizraee came to
Joseph, saying, Give us bread : for why should we die
before thee? for the money is finished. And Joseph
said, Bring your cattle, and I will give you provision,
if your money is finished. And they brought their
cattle to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread for their
horses, and for their flocks of sheep, and for their herds
of oxen, and for their asses, and for all their cattle ; he
fed 3 them with bread for that year. And that year was
completed ; and they came to him in the second year,
and said to him, We will not conceal it from our lord,
but the money is ended, and (we have delivered up) our
cattle to our lord, and there is nothing left before our
lord but our bodies and our land. Why should we
perish before thee, both we and our land ? Buy us and
our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants
to Pharoh, and give us seed corn, that we may live and
not die, and the land may not be desolate. And Joseph
acquired all the land of Mizraim for Pharoh ; for the
Mizraee sold every man his portion, because the famine
prevailed over them, and the land became Pharotr’s.
And the people he made him 3 to pass from city to city,
from one end of the limit of Mizraim to the other.
Only the land of the priests he did not buy ; for a
portion (was given) by Pharoh to the priests : and they
ate their portion which Pharoh gave them; therefore
they sold not their land. And Joseph said to the
people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your
land for Pharoh. Behold, (I give) you seed corn, that
you may sow the land. And it shall be, when it
bringeth forth produce, that you shall give one in five
to Pharoh, and four parts shall be yours, of the corn
of the field, that you and the men of your house may
2 Sam. Vers., “ he allotted them bread.”
8 Thus literally following the Hebrew.
H 2
148 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
eat, and your little ones have food. And they said,
Thou hast preserved us ; may we find grace in the
eyes of my lord, and we will be the servants of Pharoh.
And Joseph made it a statute unto this day over the
land of Mizraim, that one of five should be given to
Pharoh; only the land of the priests alone was not
Pharoh's. And Israel dwelt in the land of Mizraim in
the .land of Goshen, and possessed it : and they in¬
creased and multiplied greatly.
SECTION XII.
YAYECHI.
And Jakob lived in the land of Mizraim seventeen
years. And the days of the years of the life of Jakob
were a hundred and forty and seven years. And the
days of Israel drew near to die. And he called to his
son, to Joseph, and said to him, If now I have found
favour in thine eyes, put, I beseech thee, thine hand
under my thigh, and deal with me in goodness and
truth ; nor bury me, I beseech thee, in Mizraim ; but I
will sleep with my fathers; and thou shalt carry me
from Mizraim, and bury me in their sepulchre. And he
said, I will do according to thy word. And he said.
Swear to me; and he sware to him. And Israel
worshipped upon the pillow 4 of the bed.
XLVIII. And it was after these words that it was
said to Joseph, Behold, thy father is ill. And he took
his two sons with him, Menashe and Ephraim. And it
was shown to Jakob, and told (him,) Behold, thy son
4 Al risk harsa, “ upon the head of the bed.”
OK GENESIS.
149
XLV1I1.]
Joseph cometh to thee. And Israel was strengthened,5
and he sat upon the bed. And Jakob said to Joseph,
El Shadai revealed Himself to me in Luz, in the land of
Kenaan, and blessed me ; and He said to me, Behold, I
will multiply thee, and make thee great, and will set
thee for an assembly of tribes, and will give this land to
thy sons after thee for an everlasting inheritance. And
now thy two sons which were born to thee in the land
of Mizraim, before my coming to thee into Mizraim, are
mine; Ephraim and Menashe shall be as Reuben and
Shimeon before me. And the children whom thou mayest
beget after them, who shall be thine, after the name of
their brethren they shall be called in their inheritance.6
And I, in my coming from Padan, Rahel died by me in
the land of Kenaan, in the way, while as yet there was a
space of ground to come unto Ephrath. And I buried
her there, by the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.
Aqjd Israel saw the sons of Joseph, and said, Who are
these? And Joseph said to his father. They are my
sons whom the Lord hath given me here. And he
said, Bring them now near to me, that I may bless
them. But the eyes of Israel were heavy from age, and
he could not discern. And he brought them near to
him, and he kissed them, and embraced them. And
Israel said to Joseph, I had not hoped 7 to see thy face,
and, behold, the Lord hath showed me thy sons also.
And Joseph led them from before him, and worshipped
with his face on the earth. And Joseph took both of
them, Ephraim in his right hand, on the left of Israel,
and Menashe in his left hand, on the right of Israel,
and brought them to him. And Israel stretched out
his right hand, and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who
was the younger ; and his left hand on the head of
5 Sara. Vers., "strengthened himself.”
6 Sara. Vers., “ in their divisions.” 7 Sam. Vers., “ prayed.”
150 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
Menashe, using his hands designingly ; (or, instructing
his hands ;) for Menashe was the first-born. And he
blessed Joseph, and said. The Lord, before whom my
fathers Abraham and Izhak did serve ; the Lord, who
fed me from my coming8 unto this day; the Angel
who redeemed me from all evil, bless the youths ; and
let my name be called upon them, and the name of my
fathers Abraham and Izhak ; and as the fish of the sea
may they multiply 9 among the children of men upon
the earth ! And Joseph saw that his father laid his
right hand upon the head of Ephraim ; and it was evil
in his eyes. And he uplifted his father's hand, to
remove it from Ephraim's head, that it might rest on
the head of Menashe. And Joseph said to his father,
Not so, my father ; for this is the first-born : lay thy right
hand on his head. But his father willed not, and said,
I know, my son, I know : he also shall be for a people,
and he also shall be great ; yet his younger brother will
be greater than he, and his sons shall have dominion
among the nations. And he blessed them in that day,,
saying, By thee shall Israel bless, saying, The Lord set
thee as Ephraim and as Menashe. And he set Ephraim
before Menashe. And Israel said to Joseph, Behold, I
die ; but the Word of the Lord will be your Helper,
and restore you to the land of your fathers. And I
will give thee one portion more than thy brethren,
which I took from the hand of the Amoraah by my
prayer and by my deprecation.
XLIX. And Jacob called his sons, and said. Gather
together, and I will show you what will befall you in
the end of the days ; assemble, and hearken, O sons of
Jakob, and receive instruction from Israel your father.
Reuben, thou art my first-born, my strength, and the
8 Sam. Vers., “from the house of my nativity.”
* Sam. Vers., “be spread abroad.”
ON GENESIS.
151
XLIX.]
beginning of my power.1 2 Thine should it have been
taking to take the three portions, — the birthright, the
priesthood, and the kingdom : but because thou hast
proceeded perversely,8 behold, as water outpoured thou
wilt not prosper, neither wilt thou receive the excellent
portion ; because thou wentest up to thy father's place
of sleep : then, my son, didst thou become profane,
when thou wentest up to my bed.
Shimeon and Levi are brothers; mighty men in
the land of their sojourning, they did mightily.3 My
soul was not in their secret; into their company to
come I would not have descended from mine honour.
For in their anger they slew a slaughter, and in their
wilfulness they razed the wall of their enemy. Ac¬
cursed 4 was their anger, for it was strong, and their
wrath, for it was relentless. I will divide them in
Jakob, and I will scatter them in Israel.
Jebuda, thou art praise and not shame ; thy brethren
shall praise thee ; 5 thy hand shall prevail against thine
adversaries, thine enemies shall be dispersed ; they will
be turned backward before thee, and the sons of thy
father will come before thee with salutations. The
dominion shall be (thine) in the beginning, and in the
end the kingdom shall be increased from the house of
Jehuda, because from the judgment of death, my son,
hast thou withdrawn.6 He shall repose, and abide in
strength as a lion, and as a lioness, there shall be
no king that may cut him off. He who exerciseth
dominion shall not pass away from the house of Jehuda,
nor the saphra from his children's children for ever,
1 Sam. Ver9., “ the beginning of my time.”
2 Or, “ proceeded deceitfully.” Azalta lakabel appeka.
3 Sam. Vers., “they accomplished the fraud of their covenant.”
4 Sam. Vers., “ proud.” * Sam. Vers., “ love thee.”
6 Or, “ gone up.”
152 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
until the Meshiha come, whose is the kingdom, and
unto whom shall be the obedience of the nations (or,
whom the peoples shall obey). Israel shall pass round
about in his cities ; the people shall build his temple,
they will be righteous round about him, and be doers
of the law through his doctrine. Of goodly purple will
be his raiment, and his vesture of crimson wool with
colours.7 His mountains shall be red with his vine¬
yards, and his hills be dropping with wine ; his
valleys shall be white with corn, and with flocks of
sheep.
Zebulon will dwell nigh the haven of the sea ; he will
subdue provinces with ships, and will eat the good of
the sea, and his boundary shall come unto Sidon.
Issakar,8 rich in substance, will have his heritage
between the boundaries; and he, seeing his portion
that it is good, and the land that it is fruit-bearing,9
will subdue the provinces of the people, and disperse
their inhabitants, and they who remain of them will
become servants to him and bringers of tribute.
From the house of Dan will be chosen and will arise
a man in whose days his people shall be delivered, and
in whose years the tribes of Israel have rest together.
A chosen man will arise from the house of Dan, the
terror of whom shall fall upon the peoples ; (a man)
who will smite the Philistines with strength, as the
serpent, the deadly serpent,1 lurking 9 by the way, he
will slay the mighty of the Philistines' host, the horse¬
men with the foot ; he will weaken (loosen) the horses
7 Or, “ wool dyed bright with colours.”
8 Sam. Vers., “ Issakar, an ass sojourning, lying down between two
burdens.”
* Sam. Vers., “ fat.”
1 Churman : “ species serpentis ad cujus morsum nulla est medicinal
— Castel. Root, charem , “ to devote to destruction,”
2 Sam. Vers., “ erecting itself.”
ON GENESIS.
XLIX.]
153
and chariots, and throw their riders backward. For
thy salvation have I waited, 0 Lord !
From the house of Gad will armed hosts go over the
Jardena before their brethren to the battle ; and with
much substance will they return unto their land.
The land of Asher will be good ; and he shall be
nourished with the dainties of kings.
In a good land will the lot of Naphtali be cast, and
his inheritance be fruitful ; over them will they give
praise and benediction.3
Joseph is my son who shall increase, my son who
shall be blessed, as a vine planted by a fountain of
vraters. Two tribes will come forth from his sons, and
they shall receive a portion and inheritance. The
mighty men, the men of division, were bitter against
him ; they afflicted him and sorely grieved him ; and
his prophecy shall be fulfilled in them, because he was
faithful to the law in secret, and set his confidence
firmly. Therefore wras gold laid upon his arm, and the
kingdom was strengthened and confirmed. This was to
him from the mighty God of Jacob, who by His Word
pastureth the fathers and the children of the seed of
Israel. The Word of the God of thy father shall be
thy Helper, and the All-Sufficient shall bless thee, with
the blessings of the dew that descends from the heavens
above, with the blessings that spring from the depths
of the earth beneath, with the blessings of thy father
and of thy mother. The blessing of thy father shall be
added upon the blessing with which my fathers blessed
me ; which the princes wTho are of the world have
desired : all of them shall be upon the head of Joseph,
and upon the man who was separated from his brethren.
Benjamin : in his land will dwell the Shekina, and
3 Sam. Vers., “Naphtali is a hind sent forth, giving words of
freedom.”
H 5
154
TARGUM OF ONKELOS
[chap.
in his possession will the sanctuary be builded. In the
morning and evening 4 will the priests offer the obla¬
tion, and at eventime divide the remaining portions of
the residue of the sacred things.
All these the tribes of Israel are twelve ; and this it is
which their father spake to them, and blessed them ;
according to the blessing of each man, blessed he them.
And he commanded them, and said to them, I am to be
gathered unto my people ; bury me with my fathers in the
cavern which is in the field of Ephron the Hitaah ; in
the cavern which is in the double field over against
Mamre, in the land of Kenaan, which field Abraham
bought of Ephron the Hitaah for an inheritance-
sepulchre. There buried they Abraham and Sarah his
wife ; there buried they Izhak and Bevekah his wife ;
and there buried I Leah. The field, and the cavern
that is in it, purchased of the sons of Hitaah. And
Jakob ceased to instruct his sons, and drew his feet
together in the bed, and died, and was gathered unto his
people.
L. And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept
over him, and kissed him. And Joseph commanded
his servants, the physicians, to embalm his father; and
the physicians embalmed Israel. And forty days were
completed to him ; for so are completed the days of the
embalmed ; and the Mizraee mourned for him seventy
days. And the days of his mourning passed : and
Joseph spake with the house of Pharoh, saying, If now
I have found favour in your eyes, speak, I pray, before
Pharoh, saying, My father adjured me, saying, Behold,
I die ; in my sepulchre which I have prepared for me in
the land of Kenaan, there shalt thou bury me. And
now let me go up, I pray, and I will bury my father
and return. Aud Pharoh said, Go up and bury thy
4 Pania. Conf. the Ethiopic in Caste l, under panu, col. 3021.
ON GENESIS.
155
L.]
father, as he adjured thee. And Joseph went up to
bury his father ; and all the servants of Pharoh, the
elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of
Mizraim, went up with him ; and all the house of Joseph,
and his brethren, and the house of his father : only the
children, and the flocks, and the cattle, they left in the
land of Goshen. And with him went up, also, chariots
and horsemen ; 5 and there was a very great host. And
they came to the threshing-floor 6 of Atad, which is
beyond Jardena, and lamented there with lamentations
great and very strong. And he made a mourning for
his father seven days. And the inhabitants of the land
of Kenaan saw the mourning at the threshing-floor 6 of
Atad, and said. This is a mighty mourning of the
Mizraee ; therefore its name is called Abel Mizraim ;
which is beyond Jardena. And his sons did as he had
commanded them. And his sons carried him into the
land of Kenaan, and buried him in the cavern of the
Double Field, which Abraham bought for an inheritance-
sepulchre of Ephron the Hitaah, before Mamre. And
Joseph returned into Mizraim, he and his brethren, and
all who went up with him to bury his father, after he
had buried his father. And the brethren of Joseph
saw that their father was dead ; and they said, Perhaps
Joseph will retain enmity against us, and requiting will
requite us all the evil which we did him. And they
made visitation to Joseph, saying. Thy father commanded
before his death, saying, Thus shall you speak to Joseph,
I pray you to forgive the guilt of thy brethren and their
sin wherewith they did evil against thee. And now
forgive, I beseech thee, the guilt of the servants of the
God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake
with him. And his brethren came and fell before him,
and said. Behold, we are thy servants. And Joseph
6 Sam. Vers., “ footmen.” 6 “ The house of barns.”
156 TARGUM O F ONKELOS ON GENESIS. [CHAP. L.
said to them, Tear not, for I fear the Lord. When you
thought evil against me, before the Lord it was intended
for good, to be done, as at this day, for the preservation
of much people. And now do not fear; I will sustain
you and your children. And he consoled them, and
spake consolation to their heart.
And Joseph dwelt in Mizraim, he and his father's
house. And Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.
And Joseph saw of Ephraim three sons; also the sons
of Makir, the son of Menashe, were born, whom Joseph
brought up.
And Joseph said to his brethren, I die; but the
Lord remembering will remember you, and bring you
up from this land to the land of which He sware to
Abraham, to Izhak, and to Jakob. And Joseph adjured
the sons of Israel, saying, The Lord remembering will
remember you, and you shall carry my bones up from
hence. And Joseph died, the son of a hundred and
ten years, and they embalmed him, and laid him in an
ark in Mizraim.
END OF ONKELOS ON BERESHITH.
THE TARGUM OF PALESTINE,
COMMONLY ENTITLED
THE TARGUM OF JONATHAN BEN UZZIEL,
ON THR
BOOK OF GENESIS-
SECTION I.
BERASHITH.
I. At the beginning ( min avella) the Lord created the
heavens and the earth. And the earth was vacancy and
desolation, solitary of the sons of men, and void of every
animal ; and darkness was upon the face of the abyss,
and the Spirit of mercies from before the Lord breathed
upon the face of the waters.
[Jerusalem Targum. In wisdom (be-hukema) the
Lord created. And the earth was vacancy and desola¬
tion, and solitary of the sons of men, and void of every
animal ; and the Spirit of mercies from before the Lord
breathed upon the face of the waters.]
And the Lord said, Let there be light to enlighten
above ; and at once there was light. And the Lord
beheld the light, that it was good ; and the Lord
divided between the light and the darkness. And the
Lord called the light Day ; and He made it that the
inhabiters of the world might labour by it : and the
darkness called He Night ; and He made it that in it
158 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
the creatures might have rest. And it was evening,
and it was morning, the First Day.
[Jerusalem Targum. And it was evening, and it was
morning, in the order of the work of the creation, (or of
the beginning,) the First Day.]
And the Lord said. Let there be an expanse in the
midst of the waters, and let it separate between the
waters above and the waters beneath.
[Jerusalem. And let there be a separation between
the waters above and the waters below.7]
And the Lord made the expanse, upbearing it with
three fingers, between the confines of the heavens and
the waters of the ocean, and separated between the
waters which were below the expanse, and the waters
which were above, in the collection (or covering) of the
expanse ; and it was so. And the Lord called the
expanse the Heavens. And it was evening, and it was
morning, the Second Day.
And the Lord said. Let the lower waters which
remain under the heavens be gathered together into one
place, and the earth be dried, that the land may be
visible. And it was so. And the Lord called the dry
(land) the Earth, and the place of the assemblage of
waters called He the Seas ; and the Lord saw that it
was good. And the Lord said, Let the earth increase
the grassy herb whose seed seedeth, and the fruit-tree
making fruit after its kind, whose seed is in itself upon
the earth. And it was so. And the earth produced
grasses (and) herbage whose seed seedeth, and the tree
making fruit after its kind. And the Lord saw that it
was good. And it was evening, and it was morning,
the Third Day.
And the Lord said, Let there be lights in the expanse
of the heavens, to distinguish between the day and the
7 Maia araee, “ the terrestrial waters.”
ON GENESIS.
159
fc]
night ; and let them be for signs and for festival times,
and for the numbering by them the account of days,
and for the sanctifying of the beginning of months, and
the beginning of years, the passing away of months,
and the passing away of years, the revolutions of the
sun, the birth of the moon, and the revolvings (of
seasons).8
[Jerusalem. And let them be for signs, and for
seasons, and for the sanctifying by them of the be¬
ginning of months and years.]
And let them be for luminaries in the expanse of the
heavens to give light upon the earth. And it was so.
And the Lord made two great luminaries ; and they
were equal in glory twenty and one years, less six
hundred and two and seventy parts of an hour. And
afterwards the moon recited against the sun a false
report ; 1 and she was diminished, and the sun was
appointed to be the greater light to rule the day ; and
the moon to be the inferior light to rule in the night,
and the stars. And the Lord ordained them unto their
offices, in the expanse of the heavens, to give forth
light upon the earth, and to minister by day and by
night, to distinguish between the light of the day and
the darkness of the night. And the Lord beheld that
it was good. And it was evening, and it was morning,
Day the Fourth.
And the Lord said, Let the lakes of the waters
swarm forth the reptile, the living animal, and the fowl
which flieth, whose nest is upon the earth ; and let the
way of the bird be upon the air of the expanse of the
heavens. And the Lord created the great tanins,8 the
lev-ya-than and his yoke-fellow which are prepared for
8 Or, “new moons.” 1 Vide Introduction, p. 11.
9 Any animals distinguished by great length, from tanan, “to extend, to
be prolonged.”
160 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
the day of consolation, and every living animal which
creepeth, and which the clear waters had swarmed
forth after their kind ; the kinds which are clean, and
the kinds which are not clean ; and every fowl which
flieth with wings after their kinds, the clean and the
unclean. And the Lord beheld that it was good.
And He blessed them, saying, Increase and multiply,
and fill the waters of the seas, and let the fowl multiply
upon the earth. And it was evening, and it was morn¬
ing, Day the Fifth.
And the Lord said, Let the soil of the earth bring
forth the living creature according to his kind; the
kind that is dean and the kind that is unclean ; cattle,
and creeping thing, and the creature of the earth,
according to his kind. And it was so. And the Lord
made the beast of the earth after his kind, the clean
and the unclean, and cattle after their kind, and
every reptile of the earth after its kind, the clean
and the unclean. And the Lord saw that it was
good.
And the Lord said to the angels who ministered
before Him, who had been created in the second day
of the creation of the world, Let us make man in Our
image, in Our likeness ; and let them rule over the fish
of the sea, and over the fowl which are in the atmo¬
sphere of heaven, and over the cattle, and over all the
earth, and over every reptile creeping upon the earth.
And the Lord created man in His likeness: [Jerusa¬
lem. And the Word of the Lord created man in His
likeness, in the likeness of the presence of the Lord
He created him, the male and his yoke-fellow He
created them.] In the image of the Lord He created
him, with two hundred and forty and eight members,
with three hundred and sixty and five nerves, and over¬
laid them with skin, and filled it with flesh and blood.
ON GENESIS.
161
II.]
Male and female in their bodies He created them.
And He blessed them, and the Lord said to them.
Increase and multiply, and fill the earth with sons and
daughters, and prevail over it, in its possessions ; and
have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the
fowl of the heavens, and over every creeping animal
that creepeth upon the earth. And the Lord said.
Behold, I have given you every herb whose seed
seedeth upon the face of all the earth, and every un¬
fruitful tree for the need of building and for burning ;
and the tree in which is fruit seeding after its kind, to
you it shall be for food. But to every beast of the
earth, and to every fowl of the heavens, and to every
reptile upon the earth in which is the living soul, (I
have given) all green herbs. And it was so. And
the Lord beheld every thing He had made, and it was
very good. And it was evening, and it was morning,
the Sixth Day.
II. And the creatures of the heavens and earth, and
all the hosts of them, were completed. And the Lord
had finished by the Seventh Day the work which He had
wrought, and the ten formations which He had created
between the suns ; 3 and He rested the Seventh Day from
all His works which He had performed. And the
Lord blessed the Seventh Day more than all the days
of the week, and sanctified it, because in it He rested
from all His works which the Lord had created and
had willed to make. These are the geneses of the
heavens and earth when they were created in the day
that the Lord God made the earth and heavens. And
all the trees of the field were not as yet in the earth,
and all the herbs of the field had not as yet germinated,
because the Lord God had not made it to rain upon the
5 Beini shimshetha. See Castel, Lex., cot 8784, and compare
Exod. xii. 6 ; “ from evening to evening.”
162 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
earth, and man was not to cultivate the ground. But
a cloud of glory descended from the throne of glory,
and was filled with waters from the ocean, and after¬
ward went up from the earth, and gave rain to come
down and water all the face of the ground.
And the Lord God created man in two formations ;
and took dust from the place of the house of the sanctu¬
ary,4 and from the four winds of the world, and mixed
from all the waters of the world, and created him red,
black, and white; and breathed into his nostrils the
inspiration 6 of life, and there was in the body of Adam
the inspiration 5 of a speaking spirit,® unto the illu¬
mination of the eyes and the hearing of the ears.
[Jerusalem. And Adam became a soul of life.]
And a garden from the Eden of the just was planted
by the Word of the Lord God before the creation of
the world, and He made there to dwell the man when
He had created him. And the Lord God made to
grow from the ground every tree that was desirable to
behold and good to eat, and the tree of life in the
midst of the garden, whose height was a journey of five
hundred years, and the tree of whose fruit they who
ate would distinguish between good and evil.
[Jerusalem. And the tree of knowledge, of which
any one who ate would distinguish between good and
evil.]
And a river went forth from Eden, to water the
garden, and from thence was separated, and became
four heads of rivers (or four chief rivers). The name
of the first is Phishon ; that is it which compasseth all
the land of Hindiki, where there is gold. And the
gold of that land is choice. There is the bedilcha, and
the precious stones of byrils. And the name of the
4 Mount Moriah. Comp. chap. iv. 23. 5 Niskmelha.
6 Leruach memallela.
ON GENESIS.
163
II.]
second river is Gichon ; that is it which encompasseth
all the land of Koosh. And the name of the third
river is Diglath ; that is it which goeth to the east of
Athoor. And the fourth river is Pherath.
And the Lord God took the man from the mountain
of worship, where he had been created, and made him
dwell in the garden of Eden, to do service in the law,
and to keep its commandments.
[Jerusalem. And the Lord God took the man,
and made him dwell in the garden of Eden ; and set him
to do service in the law, and to keep it.]
And the Lord God commanded Adam, saying, Of
every tree of the garden eating thou mayest eat. But
of the tree of whose fruit they who eat (become) wise
to know between good and evil, thou shalt not eat : for
in the day that thou eatest thou wilt be guilty of
death.
And the Lord God said, It is not right that Adam
should be sleeping alone : I will make unto him a wife
who may be a helper before him.
[Jerusalem. I will make for him a yoke-fellow,
going forth with him.]
And the Lord God created from the earth every
beast of the field, and every fowl of the heavens, and
brought them to Adam, to see by what name he would
call it. And whatever Adam called the living animal,
that was its name. And Adam called the names of all
cattle, and all fowl of the heavens, and all beasts of the
field. But for Adam was not found as yet a helper
before him. [Jerusalem. And for Adam was not
found a yoke-fellow going forth with him.]
And the Lord God threw a deep slumber upon
Adam, and he slept. And He took one of his ribs, it
was the thirteenth rib of the right side, and closed it
up with flesh. And the Lord God builded the rib
164 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
which he had taken from Adam into a woman ; and
He brought her to Adam. And Adam said. This time,
and not again, is woman created from man. Thus,
because she is created from me, (she is) bone of my
bone, and flesh of my flesh. This it is fit to call
Woman, because from man she was taken. Therefore
a man shall leave, and be separate from the house of
the bed of his father and of his mother, and shall con-
sociate with his wife, and both of them shall be one
flesh. And both of them were wise, Adam and his
wife ; but they were not faithful (or truthful) in their
glory: [Jerusalem. Therefore a man shall leave the
house of the bed of his father and his mother . And
they knew not what is shame.]
III. And the serpent was wiser unto evil than all
the beasts of the field which the Lord God had made.
And he said to the woman, Is it truth that the Lord
God hath said, You shall not eat of every tree of the
garden ? And the woman said to the serpent, From
the rest of the fruits of the trees of the garden we have
power to eat ; but of the fruit of the tree which is in
the midst of the garden the Lord hath said. You shall
not eat of it, nor approach it, lest you die. In that
hour the serpent spake accusation against his Creator,
and said to the woman. Dying you will not die; for
every artificer hateth the son of his art : for it is mani¬
fest before the Lord, that in the day that you eat of it,
you will be as the great angels, who are wise to know
between good and evil.
And the woman beheld Sammael, the angel of death,
and was afraid ; yet she knew that the tree was good
to eat, and that it was medicine for the enlightenment of
the eyes, and a desirable tree by means of which to
understand. And she took of its fruit, and did eat ;
and she gave to her husband with her, and he did eat,
ON GENESIS.
165
III.]
And the eyes of both were enlightened, and they knew
that they were naked, divested of the purple 7 robe in
which they had been created. And they saw the sight
of their shame, and sewed to themselves the leaves of
figs, and made to them cinctures. [Jerusalem. And they
made to them vestments.] And they heard the voice
of the word of the Lord God walking in the garden in
the repose of the day; and Adam and his wife hid
themselves from before the Lord God among the trees
of the garden. And the Lord God called to Adam,
and said to him. Is not all the world which I have made
manifest before Me; the darkness as the light? and how
hast thou thought in thine heart to hide from before Me ?
The place where thou art concealed, do I not see ?
Where are the commandments that I commanded thee ?
[Jerusalem. Walking in the garden in the strength
of the day . And the Word of the Lord God called
to Adam, and said to him, Behold, the world which I
have created is manifest before Me, the darkness and
the light are manifest before Me; and how thinkest
thou that the place in the midst whereof thou art, is
not revealed before Me ? Where is the commandment
which I taught thee ?]
And he said, The voice of Thy Word heard I in the
garden, and I was afraid, because I am naked ; and the
commandment which Thou didst teach me, I have
transgressed ; therefore I hid myself from shame. And
He said, Who showed thee that thou art naked ?
Unless thou hast eaten of the fruit of the tree of
which I commanded that thou shouldst not eat. And
Adam said. The woman whom Thou gavest to be with
me, she gave me of the fruit of the tree, and I did eat.
And the Lord God said to the woman, What hast thou
done ? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me
7 Or, ‘‘onyx- coloured.”
166 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [cHAP.
with his subtilty, and deceived me with his wickedness,
and I ate. And the Lord God brought the three unto
judgment; and He said to the serpent, Because thou
hast done this, cursed art thou of all the cattle, and of
all the beasts of the field : upon thy belly thou shalt
go, and thy feet shall be cut off, and thy skin thou
shalt cast away once in seven years ; and the poison of
death shall be in thy mouth, and dust shalt thou eat
all the days of thy life. And I will put enmity between
thee and the woman, and between the seed of thy son,
and the seed of her sons ; and it shall be when the sons
of the woman keep the commandments of the law, they
will be prepared to smite thee upon thy head; but
when they forsake the commandments of the law, thou
wilt be ready to wound them in their heel. Neverthe¬
less for them there shall be a medicine, but for thee
there will be no medicine; and they shall make
a remedy for the heel in the days of the King
Meshiha.8
[Jerusalem. And it shall be when the sons of the
woman consider the law, and perform (its) instructions,
they will be prepared to smite thee on thy head to kill
thee ; and when the sons of the woman forsake the com¬
mandment of the law, and perform not (its) instruc¬
tions, thou wilt be ready to wound them in their heel,
and hurt them. Nevertheless there shall be a medicine
for the sons of the woman, but for thee, serpent, there
shall be no medicine : but it is to be that for these
there shall be a remedy 8 for the heel in the days of the
king Meshiha.]
Unto the woman He said, Multiplying, I will multi¬
ply thy affliction by the blood of thy virginity, and by
thy conception ; in sorrow shalt thou bear children, and
8 Or, "make a bruise with the heel in the days of' the king
Meshiha.” “ Shephiutha, — contritio , al. complastrum .” — Caste L.
ON GENESIS.
in.]
167
to thy husband shall be thy desire, and he will have
rule over thee unto righteousness or unto sin.
But to Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened
to the word of thy wife, and hast eaten of the fruit
of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou
shalt not eat of it, accursed is the ground, in that it did
not show thee thy guilt; in labour shalt thou eat (of)
it all the days of thy life. And thorns and thistles will
it put forth and increase on account of thee, and thou
shalt eat the herb which is on the face of the field.
And Adam answered : I pray, through mercies from
before Thee, 0 Lord, that we may not be accounted as
the cattle, to eat the herb of the face of the field. Let
us stand up, and labour with the labour of the hands,
and eat food of the food of the earth ; and thus let
there be distinction before Thee, between the children
of men and the offspring of cattle.
[Jerusalem. And thorns and dardareen shall it
increase to thee ; and thou shalt eat the herb which is
on the face of the field. Adam answered and said,
I pray, through mercies from before Thee, O Lord,
that we be not accounted before Thee as the cattle, to
eat the herb which is on the face of the field. Let us
now stand up, and labour with the labour of the hands,
and eat food of the fruits of the earth ; and in these
things let there be distinction before Thee between
the children of men and the cattle.] By the labour of
thy hands 9 thou shalt eat food, until thou turn again
to the dust from which thou wast created : for dust
thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return ; for from the
dust it is to be that thou art to arise, to render judg¬
ment and reckoning for all that thou hast done, in the
day of the great judgment.1
And Adam called the name of his wife Hava, because
9 Kaph yedaka, “ of the palm of thy hands.” 1 Beyom dina rabba.
168 TAUGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
she is the mother of all the children of men. And the
Lord God made to Adam and to his wife vestures of
honour from the skin of the serpent, which he had cast
from him, upon the skin of their flesh, instead of that
adornment which had been cast away ; and He clothed
them.
And the Lord God said to the angels who ministered
before Him, Behold, Adam is sole 8 on the earth, as I
am sole in the heavens above ; and it will be that they
will arise from him who will know to discern between
good and evil. Had he kept the commandments
which I appointed to him, he would have lived and sub¬
sisted as the tree of life for ever. But now, because he
hath not kept that which I prescribed, it is decreed
against him that we keep 3 him from the garden of
Eden, before he reach forth his hand and take of the
tree of life : for, behold, if he eat thereof, living he will
live and subsist for ever. And the Lord God removed
him from the garden of Eden ; and he went and dwelt
on Mount Moriah, to cultivate the ground from which
he had been created. And He drave out the man from
thence where He had made to dwell the glory of His
Shekina at the first between the two Kerubaia. Before
He had created the world, He created the law ; He pre¬
pared the garden of Eden for the righteous, that they
might eat and delight themselves with the fruit of the
tree ; because they would have practised in their fives
the doctrine of the law in this world, and have main¬
tained the commandments : (but) he prepared Gehin-
nam for the wicked, which is like the sharp, consuming
sword of two edges ; in the midst of it He hath pre¬
pared flakes of fire and burning coals for the judg¬
ment of the wicked who rebelled in their life against
the doctrine of the law. To serve the law is better
2 Techidai — unions, vnigenitus. 3 Or, prohibit.”
ON GENESIS.
169
IV.]
than (to eat of) the fruit of the tree of life, (the law)
which the Word of the Lord prepared, that man in
keeping it might continue, and walk in the paths of
the way of life in the world to come.
[Jerusalem. And the Word of the Lord God said,
Behold, Adam whom I have created is sole 4 in my world,
as I am sole in the heavens above. It is to be that a
great people are to arise from him ; from him will arise
a people who will know how to discern between good
and evil. And now it is good that we keep 6 him from
the garden of Eden before he stretch forth his hand
and take also of the fruit of the tree of life, and eat,
and live for ever . And He cast out Adam, and made
the glory of His Shekina to dwell at the front of the
east of the garden of Eden, above the two Kerubaia.
Two thousand years before He had created the world,
He created the law, and prepared Gehinnam and the
garden of Eden. He prepared the garden of Eden 6 for
the righteous, that they should eat, and delight them¬
selves with the fruit of the tree, because they had kept
tiie commandments of the law in this world. For the
wicked He prepared Gehinnam, which is like the sharp,
consuming sword with two edges. He prepared in the
depth of it flakes of fire and burning coals for the
wicked, for their punishment for ever in the world to
come, who have not kept the commandment of the law
in this world. Eor the law is the tree of life ; who¬
ever keepeth it in this life liveth and subsisteth as the
tree of life. The law is good to keep in this world, as
the fruit of the tree of life in the world that cometh.]
1Y. And Adam knew Hava his wife, who had desired
the Angel ; and she conceived, and bare Kain ; and she
* Yechidai, — unicus , unigenitus, “only begotten.” F Or, “prohibit.”
6 “ Seven things existed before the creation of the world, — the law,
repentance, paradise, hell, the throne of God, the name of the Messiah,
and the holy temple.” — Yalkut. Vide Introduction, p. 11.
I
170 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
*?aid, I have acquired a man, the Angel of the Lord.
And she added to bear from her husband Adam his
twin, even Habel. And Habel was a shepherd of the
flock, but Kain was a man working in the earth. And
it was at the end of days, on the fourteenth of Nisan,
that Kain brought of the produce of the earth, the seed
of cotton (or line), an oblation of first things before the
Lord ; and Habel brought of the firstlings of the flock,
and of their fat ; and it was pleasing before the Lord,
and He gave (His) countenance to Habel and to his
oblation ; but to Kain and to his oblation He gave no
countenance. And Kain was angered greatly, and the
features of his face were downcast. And the Lord said
to Kain, Why hast thou anger, and why are the features
of thy face downcast? If thou doest thy work well,
will not thy guilt be forgiven thee ? But if thou doest
not thy work well in this world, thy sin is retained unto
the day of the great judgment, and at the doors of thy
heart lieth thy sin. And into thy hand have I delivered
the power over evil passion, and unto thee shall be the
inclination thereof, that thou mayest have authority
over it to become righteous, or to sin.
And Kain said to Habel his brother. Come, and let
us two go forth into the field. And it was that when
they two had gone forth into the field, Kain answered
and said to Habel, I perceive that the world was created
in goodness, but it is not governed (or conducted)
according to the fruit of good works, for there is re¬
spect to persons in judgment ; therefore it is that thy
offering was accepted, and mine not accepted with good
will.
Habel answered and said to Kain, In goodness was
the world created, and according to the fruit of good
works is it governed ; and there is no respect of persons
in judgment ; but because the fruits of my works were
IV.] ON GENESIS. 171
better than thine, my oblation, before thine, hath been
accepted with good will.
Kain answered and said to Habel, There is neither
judgment nor Judge, nor another world ; nor will good
reward be given to the righteous, nor vengeance be
taken of the wicked.
And Habel answered and said to Kain, There is a
judgment, and there is a Judge; and there is another
world, and a good reward given to the righteous, and
vengeance taken of the wicked.
And because of these words they had contention
upon the face of the field ; and Kain arose against
Habel his brother, and drave a stone into his forehead,
and killed him.
And the Lord said to Kain, Where is Habel thy
brother ? And he said, I know not; am I the keeper
of my brother ? And He said, What hast thou done ?
The voice of the bloods of the murder of thy brother
which are swallowed up in the sod, crieth before Me
from the earth. And now because thou hast killed
him, thou art cursed from the earth, which hath opened
the mouth, and received the bloods of thy brother from
thy hand. When thou tillest the earth, it shall not
add to give strength to its fruits for thee. A wanderer
and an exile shalt thou be in the earth. And Kain
said before the Lord, More heavy is my rebellion than
can be borne (away). Yet is there power before Thee
to forgive it. Behold, Thou hast cast me forth to-day
from the face of the earth, and from before Thee is it
possible to be hidden ? And because I am a wanderer
and an exile in the earth, any just one who findeth me
will kill me. And the Lord said to him, Behold now,
any one who killeth Kain, unto seven generations venge¬
ance shall be taken of him. And the Lord sealed
upon the face of Kain the mark of the Name great and
i 2
TARGUM OF PALESTINE
172
[chap.
honourable, that any one who might find him should
not kill him when he saw it upon him.
[Jerusalem. 7. If thou makest thy work good in
this world, will it not be forgiven and remitted thee in
the world to come ? But if thou dost not make thy
work good in this world, thy sin is retained unto the
day of the great judgment ; and at the door of thy
heart it lieth. Yet into thy hand have I delivered
power over evil passion, and to thee may be dominion
over it, to become righteous or to sin . 8. And Kain
said to Habel his brother. Come, and let us go forth
upon the face of the field. And it was when they had
gone out upon the face of the field, Kain answered and
said to Habel his brother, There is neither judgment
nor J udge, nor another world ; neither is a good
reward given to the righteous, nor will vengeance
be taken of the wicked. Nor was the world created
in goodness, nor in goodness is it conducted. There¬
fore it is that thy oblation was accepted with good
will, and mine not accepted with good will. Habel
answered and said to Kain, There is a judgment, and
there is a Judge : there is another world, and a good
reward is given to the righteous, and vengeance taken
of the wicked. And in goodness was the world created,
and in goodness is it conducted. But according to the
fruit of good works is it conducted. Because my works
were better ordered than thine, my offering was accepted
with good will, and thine was not accepted with good
will. And as they two disputed on the face of the
field, Kain arose against Habel his brother, and killed
him . 10. The voice of the blood of the multitude
of the righteous who were to arise from Habel thy
brother . 13. And Kain said before the Lord, My
sins are greater than can be borne. Nevertheless
there is power before Thee to absolve and forgive me.]
ON GENESIS.
173
iv.]
And Kain went out from before the Lord, and dwelt
in the land of the wandering of his exile, which had
been made for him from before, as the garden of Eden.
And Kain knew his wife, and she conceived and bare
Hanok ; and he builded a city, and called the name of
the city after the name of his son, Hanok.
[Jerusalem. And Kain went out from before the
Lord, and dwelt in the land of exile and wandering,
eastward of the garden of Eden. And it had been
before Kain slew Habel his brother that the earth mul¬
tiplied fruits, as the fruits of the garden of Eden ; (but)
from (the time that) he sinned and killed his brother,
it changed, to produce thorns and thistles.]
18. And there was born unto Hanok Irad, and Irad
begat Mechujael, and Mechujaei begat Methushael, and
Methushael begat Lemek. And Lemek took to him
two wives ; the name of the first, Ada, and the name
of the second, Zillah. And Ada bare Javal ; he was
the chief ( rab ) of all those who dwell in tents, and are
masters of cattle. And the name of his brother (was)
Juval : he was chief {rab) of all those who take part in
song with the lyre and the pipe. And Zillah bare also
Tuvalkain, the chief {rab) of all artificers who know the
workmanship of brass and iron. And the sister of Tuval¬
kain was Naama ; she was mistress of elegies and songs.
And Lemek said to his wives Ada and Zillah, Hear
my voice, wives of Lemek, hearken to my words : for
I have not killed a man, that I should be slain for him ;
neither have I destroyed a young man, on whose account
my children should perish. Eor Kain who sinned and
was converted by repentance (had protection) unto
seven generations extended to him : and to Lemek, the
son of his son, who hath not sinned, it is just that it
shall be extended unto seventy and seven.
And Adam knew his wife again, at the end of a
174 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
hundred and thirty years after Habel had been slain ;
and she bare a son, and called his name Sheth ; for she
said. The Lord hath given me another son instead of
Habel whom Kain slew. And to Sheth also was born
a son, and he called his name Enosh. That was the
generation in whose days they began to err, and to
make themselves idols, and surnamed their idols by the
name of the Word of the Lord.
Y. This is the book of the genealogy of Man.7 In
the day that the Lord created man,7 in the likeness of
the Lord He made him. Male and female He created
them, and blessed them in the name of His Word ; and
He called their name Man7 in the day they were
created. And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years,
and begat Sheth, who had the likeness of his image and
of his similitude : for before had Hava born Kain, who
was not like to him ; and Habel was killed by his hand.
And Kain was cast out ; neither is his seed genealogized
in the book of the genealogy of Adam. But afterwards
there was born one like him, and he called his name
Sheth. And the days of Adam after he begat Sheth
were eight hundred years, and he begat sons and
daughters.
[Jerusalem. 4. Eight hundred years ; and in those
years he begat sons and daughters. 5. And he died,
and was gathered from the midst of the world.]
And all the days of Sheth were nine hundred and
twelve years, and he died. And Enosh lived ninety
years, and begat Kenan. And Enosh lived after he had
begotten Kenan eight hundred and fifteen years, and
begat sons and daughters. And all the days of Enosh
were nine hundred and five years ; and he died. And
Kenan lived seventy years and begat Mahalalel. And
Kenan lived after he had begotten Mahalalel eight
7 Adam.
ON GENESIS.
175
V.]
hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters.
And all the days of Kenan were nine hundred and ten
years ; and he died. And Mahalalel lived sixty-five
years, and begat Jared. And Mahalalel lived after he
had begotten Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and
begat sons and daughters. And all the days of
Mahalalel were eight hundred and ninety-five years ; and
he died. And Jared lived a hundred and sixty-two
years, and begat Hanok. And Jared lived after he had
begotten Hanok eight hundred years, and begat sons
and daughters. And all the days of Jared were nine
hundred and sixty -two years ; and he died. And
Hanok lived sixty-five years, and begat Methushelach.
And Hanok worshipped 8 in truth before the Lord after
he had begotten Methushelach three hundred years, and
begat sons and daughters. And all the days of Hanok
with the sojourners of the earth were three hundred
and sixty-five years. And Hanok served in the truth
before the Lord; and, behold, he was not with the
sojourners of the earth ; for he was withdrawn, and
he ascended to the firmament by the Word before the /^6,
Lord, and his name was called Metatron the Great/^ 32 £
Saphra.
[Jerusalem. And Hanok served in the truth before
the Lord ; and, behold, he was not ; for he was with¬
drawn by the Word from before the Lord.]
And Methushelach lived a hundred and eighty-seven
years, and begat Lemek. And Methushelach lived after
he had begotten Lemek seven hundred and eighty-two
years, and begat sons and daughters. And all the days
of Methushelach were nine hundred and two and sixty
and nine years ; 9 and he died. And Lemek lived a
hundred and eighty-two years, and begat a son ; and
8 Or, “ served.”
9 Tesha meah , vetarteen veshittin , utesha shenin.
176 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
he called his name Noah, (Consolation,) saying, This
shall console us for our works that are not prosperous,
and for the labour of our hands with the earth which
the Lord hath cursed on account of the guilt of the
sons of men. And Lemek lived after he had begotten
Noah five hundred and ninety and five years, and begat
sons and daughters. And all the days of Lemek were
seven hundred and seventy and seven years ; and he
died. And Noah was the son of five hundred years,
and Noah begat Shem, Cham, and Japhet.
VI. And it was when the sons of men began to
multiply upon the face of the earth, and fair daughters
were born to them ; and the sons of the great saw that
the daughters of men were beautiful, and painted, and
curled, walking with revelation of the flesh, and with
imaginations of wickedness ; that they took them wives
of all who pleased them. And the Lord said by His
Word, All the generations of the wicked which are to
arise shall not be purged after the order of the judg¬
ments of the generation of the deluge, which shall be
destroyed and exterminated from the midst of the world.
Have I not imparted My Holy Spirit to them, (or,
placed My Holy Spirit in them,) that they may work
good works ? and, behold, their works are wicked.
Behold, I will give them a prolongment of a hundred
and twenty years, that they may work repentance, and
not perish.
[Jerusalem. And the Word of the Lord said, The
generations which are to arise shall not be judged after
(the manner of) the generation of the deluge, (which is)
to be destroyed, and exterminated, and finally blotted
out. Have I not imparted My Spirit to the sons of
men, because they are flesh, that they may work good
works ? But they do works of evil. Behold, I have
given them a prolongment of a hundred and twenty
0 N GENESIS.
VI.]
177
years, that they may work repentance ; but they have
not done it.]
Schamchazai and Uzziel, who fell from heaven, were
on the earth in those days ; and also, after the sons of
the Great had gone in with the daughters of men, they
bare to them : and these are they who are called men
who are of the world,1 men of names.
And the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was
great in the earth, and all the imagery of the thought
of his heart was only evil every day. And it repented
the Lord in His Word that He had made man upon the
earth ; and He passed judgment upon them by His Word.
[Jehu salem. And there was repentance before the
Lord ih His Word that He had made man upon the
earth... And He said, and judged in His heart.]
And the Lord said, I will abolish by My Word man,
whom I have created upon the face of the earth, from
man to cattle, to the reptile, and to the fowl of the
heavens; because I have repented in My Word that I
have made them. But Noah, who was righteous, found
favour before the Lord.
[Jerusalem. But Noah, because he was righteous
in his generation, found favour and mercy before the
Lord.]
SECTION II.
TOLEDOTH.
These are the genealogies of the race of Noah.
Noah was a just man, complete in good works in his
generation, (and) in the fear of the Lord walked Noah,
1 Gibreen demealma.
178 TARGTJM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Cham, and
Japheth.
And the earth was corrupted through the inhabitants
thereof, who had declined from the ways of righteous¬
ness before the Lord ; and the earth was filled with
rapine. [Jerusalem. And the earth was filled with
violences and frauds.] And the Lord beheld the earth ;
and, lo, it was corrupt ; for all flesh had every one
corrupted his way upon the earth.
Aud the Lord said to Noah, The end of all flesh
cometh before Me, because the earth is filled with rapine
by their evil works ; and, behold, I will destroy them
with the earth. Make thee an ark of the wood of
cedars ; a hundred and fifty cells shalt thou make to
the ark in its left side, and thirty and six in its breadth ;
and ten cabins in the midst, to lay up in them provision ;
and five repositories on the right, and five on the left ;
and thou shalt protect it within and without with pitch.
Go thou unto Phison, and take from thence a precious
stone, and fix it in the ark to illuminate you : with the
measure of a cubit (or span) shalt thou complete it
above. And a door shalt thou set in the side of the
ark ; and with dwelling-places, inferior, second, and
third, shalt thou make it. And I, behold, I bring a
flood of waters upon the earth to swallow up all flesh
which hath in it the spirit of life from under the
heavens : whatever is upon the earth shall be swept
away. But I will establish my covenant with thee ;
and thou shalt go into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and
thy wife, and the wives of thy sons with thee. And of
all that liveth of all flesh, two of every (kind) shall go
into the ark, to be preserved alive with thee : male and
female shall they be. Of the fowl after its kind, and
of all cattle after its kind, and of every reptile of the
earth after its kind, two of every (sort) shall enter to
ON GENESIS.
179
VII.]
thee by the hand of the angel, who will take and cause
them to enter to thee, to be preserved. And thou,
take to thee of all food that is eaten, and let it be to
thee and to them for food. And Noah did according to
all that the Lord had instructed him.
VII. And the Lord said to Noah, Enter, thou, and
every one of thy house, into the ark ; for thee have I
seen righteous before me in this generation. Of all
clean cattle take thou seven by seven, male and female,
and of all cattle not clean, two (and two), male and
female. But of birds of the heaven, seven by seven,
male and female, to preserve from them seed upon the
earth. Eor, behold, I give you space of seven days ; if
they will be converted, it shall be forgiven them ; but if
they will not be converted, after a time of days yet
seven, I will cause rain to come down upon the earth
forty days and forty nights, and will destroy all bodies
of man and of beast upon the earth. And Noah did
according to all that the Lord had commanded him.
And Noah was the son of six hundred years when the
deluge of waters was upon the earth. And Noah
entered, and his sons and his wife and the wives of his
sons with him, into the ark, from before the waters of
the deluge. Of all cattle clean, and of cattle unclean,
of birds, and of whatever creepeth upon the earth, two
and two they entered unto Noah into the ark, male
and female, as the Lord had instructed Noah.
And it was at the time of seven days after the con¬
clusion of the mourning for Methushelach, that the
Lord beheld, and, lo, the sons of men had not turned.
And the waters of the deluge came down hotly 3 from
the heavens upon the earth. In the six-hundredth
year of the life of Noah, in the second month, which
2 Rethichin, “ boiling.” The Midrash says, that “ the generation of
the flood was chastised with scalding water.”
180 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
was the month of Marchesvan,3 for hitherto the months
had been numbered from Tishri 4 which was the begin¬
ning of the year at the completion of the world, in the
seventeenth day of the month, in that day were all the
fountains of the great deep broken up. And the
giants were gathered there together with their sons
and perturbed them, and afterwards the windows of
heaven were opened. [Jerusalem. And the windows
of heaven were opened.] And the rain came down
upon the earth forty days and forty nights. In that
same day entered Noah, and Shem, and Cham, and
Yapheth, the sons of Noah, and the wife of Noah, and
the three wives of his sons with him, into the ark : they,
and every animal after his kind, and all cattle after
their kind, and every reptile that creepeth upon the
earth after his kind, and every fowl after its kind,
every bird which flieth. And they entered to Noah
into the ark, two and two of all flesh in which was the
breath of life. And they coming entered, male and
female, of all flesh unto him, as the Lord had instructed
him ; and the Word of the Lord covered over the
door of the ark upon the face thereof. [Jerusalem.
And the Word of the Lord was merciful upon him.]
And there was a flood forty days upon the earth, and
the waters were multiplied and bare up the ark, and it
was lifted from the earth. And the waters waxed
mighty and increased greatly upon the earth, and the
ark went floating upon the face of the waters. And
the waters prevailed greatly upon the earth, and all the
high hills .which were under the heavens were covered:
fifteen cubits higher did the waters prevail, and the
mountains were covered. And all flesh expired which
moveth upon the earth ; of fowl, and of cattle, and of
wild beasts, and every moving thing that moveth upon
3 November. 4 October.
ON GENESIS.
181
VIII.]
the earth, and all the sons of men, — every thing in
whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all on the dry
land, died. And all the bodies of men and of beasts
upon the face of the earth, from man to cattle, to creep¬
ing thing, and to the fowl which wingeth in the air of
heaven, perished from the earth ; and Noah only was
left, and they who were with him in the ark. And the
waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty
days.
YITT. And the Lord in His Word remembered
Noah, and all the animals and the cattle which were
with him in the ark ; and the Lord caused the wind
of mercies to pass over the earth, and the waters were
dried. [Jerusalem. And He remembered in His
mercies the good which was with Noah. And the
Lord caused the wind of mercies.] And the fountains
of the deep were shut up, and the windows of heaven,
and the rain was forbidden to descend from heaven.
And the waters returned from being on the earth,
going and returning. And the waters were minished
at the end of a hundred and fifty days. And the ark
rested in the seventh month, which is the month of
Nisan, in the seventeenth day of the month, upon the
mountains of Qadron ; the name of the one mountain is
Qardania/ and the name of the other mountain
Irmenia ; and there was builded the city of Armenia in
the land of the east. And the waters went and dimi¬
nished until the tenth month, the month Tammuz. In
Tammuz, in the first of the month, the heads of the
mountains were seen. And it was at the end of forty
days, and Noah opened the aperture of the ark which
he had made. And he sent out a raven ; and it went
forth, going forth and returning, until the waters had
dried from the earth. And he sent forth a house-dove
s Or, “ Kurdania”
182 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
from being with him, to see whether the waters were
lightened from off the faces of the earth. And the
dove found no rest for the sole of the foot, and returned
unto him to the ark ; and he knew that the waters were
(yet) upon the face of all the earth. And he reached
out his hand, and took and brought her unto him into
the ark. And he prolonged (waited) yet seven days,
[Jerusalem. And he began to number,] and again he
sent the dove from the ark. And the dove came to
him at the evening time, and, behold, a leaf of olive
gathered, broken off, she brought in her mouth, and
which she had taken from the Mount of the Meshiha.®
And Noah understood that the waters had lightened
from being on the earth. And he prolonged yet seven
days, and added to send forth the dove ; but she added
not to return to him again. And it was in the six
hundred and first year, in Tishri, in the first of the
month, in the beginning of the year, that the waters
were dried from upon the earth. And Noah removed
the covering of the ark, and saw the faces of the ground
to be dried. And in the month Marchesvan, in the
twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry.
And the Lord spake with Noah, saying : Go forth
from the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and the
wives of thy sons, with thee. Every living animal that
is with thee of all flesh, of fowl, of cattle, and of every
reptile that creepeth on the earth, bring forth with thee,
that they may produce in the earth, and spread abroad
and multiply on the earth. And Noah went forth, and
his sons, and his wife, and the wives of his sons, with
him. Every animal, every reptile, and every bird,
which moveth upon the earth, according to its seed,
went forth from the ark.
And Noah budded the altar before the Lord ; that
‘ The Mount of Olives.
ON GENESIS.
183
IX.]
altar which Adam had builded in the time when he was
cast forth from the garden of Eden, and had offered an
oblation upon it ; and upon it had Kain and Habel
offered their oblations. But when the waters of the
deluge descended, it was destroyed, and Noah rebuilded
it ; and he took of all clean cattle, and of all clean fowl,
and sacrificed four upon that altar. And the Lord
accepted his oblation with favour : and the Lord said in
His Word, I will not add again to curse the earth on
account of the sin of the children of men; for the
imagination of the heart of man is evil from his youth ;
neither will I add to destroy whatever livetli as I have
done. Until all the days of the earth, sowing in the
season7 of Tishri, and harvest in the season of Nisan,
and coldness in the season of Tebeth, and warmth in
the season of Tammuz, and summer and winter, and
days and nights shall not fail. [Jerusalem. Until all
the days of the earth from now, sowing and reaping,
and cold and heat, and days and nights shall not cease.]
IX. And the Lord blessed Noah, and his sons, and
said to them, Spread forth and multiply, and replenish
the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you
shall be upon every beast of the earth, and on every fowl
of the heavens ; of all that the earth swarmeth forth, and
all the fishes of the sea, into your hand are they deli¬
vered. Every moving thing which liveth to you shall
be for food : as the green herb have I given to you the
whole. But flesh which is torn of the living beast,
what time the life is in it, or that torn from a slaughtered
animal before all the breath has gone forth, you shall
noteat. But the blood of your lives will I require8
of every animal which hath killed a man, I will require
7 Tequpha, “course, revolution of nature, season.” Vide Castel,
col. 3305.
8 Or, “ demand retribution.”
184 TAUGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
that it be put to death on his account. And from the
hand of the human being, from the hand of the man
who hath shed the blood of his brother, will I require
the life of man. Whoso sheddeth the blood of man,
the judges, by witnesses, shall condemn him unto
death ; but he who sheddeth it without witnesses, the
Lord of the world will bring punishment on him in the
day of the great judgment; because in the image of
the Lord He made man. And you, spread yourselves
abroad and multiply; bring forth in the earth, and
increase in it.
And the Lord spake to Noah, and to his sons with
him, saying, I, behold, I establish my covenant with
you, and with your children after you ; and with every
living soul that is with you, of birds, and of cattle, and
of every beast of the earth that is with you, of all that
go forth from the ark, of every beast of the earth. And
I will establish my covenant with you, and will not
again cause all flesh to perish by the waters of a flood ;
and there shall not again be a flood to destroy the
earth.
And the Lord said. This is the sign of the covenant
which I establish between My Word and between you
and every living soul that is with you, unto the genera¬
tions of the world. I have set My Bow in the cloud,
and it shall be for a token of the covenant between My
Word and the earth. And it shall be that when I
spread forth My glorious cloud over the earth, the bow
shall be seen in the day (time), while the sun is not
sunk (or hidden) in a cloud. And I will remember My
covenant which is between My Word and between you
and every living soul of all flesh, that there shall not be
the waters of a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow
shall be in the cloud, and I will look upon it, to remem¬
ber the everlasting covenant between the Word of the
ON GENESIS.
185
IX.]
Lord and every living soul of all flesh that is upon the
earth. And the Lord said to Noah, This is the sign
of the covenant that I have covenanted between My
Word and between the word of all flesh that is upon
the earth.
And the sons of Noah who went forth from the ark
were Shem, Cham, and Japhet; and Cham is the father
of Kenaan. These are the three sons of Noah, and
from them they were spread abroad to dwell in all the
earth.
And Noah began to be a man working in the earth.
[Jerusalem. And Noah began to be a righteous man,
and he planted a vineyard.] And he found a vine
which the river had brought away from the garden of
Eden ; and he planted it in a vineyard, and it flourished
in a day ; and its grapes became ripe, and he pressed
them out. And he drank of the wine8 and was
drunken ; and he made himself naked in the midst of
his tent. And Cham, the father of Kenaan, beheld the
nakedness of his father, and showed to his brethren
without. And Shem and Japhet took a mantle, and
bare it upon the shoulders of each, and went backward,
and covered the nakedness of their father ; and their
faces were turned back, and the nakedness of their
father they did not behold. And Noach awoke from
his wine, and knew, by the relation of a dream, what
had been done to him by Cham his son, who was infe¬
rior in. worth, on the account that he had not begotten
a fourth son. And he said. Accursed is Kenaan who is
his fourth son, a serving servant shall he be to his
brethren. And he said, Blessed be the Lord, the God
of Shem, whose work is righteous ; and therefore shall
Kenaan be servant unto him. The Lord shall beautify
the borders of Japhet, and his sons shall be proselyted
9 Chamra , “ red wine.”
186 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
and dwell in the schools of Shem, and Kenaan shall be
a servant to them. And Noach lived after the deluge
three hundred and fifty years. And all the days of
Noach were nine hundred and fifty years; and he died.
X. These are the generations of the sons of Noach,
and (of the) sons (who) were born to them after the
deluge.1 The sons of Japheth, Gomer, and Magog,
and Madai, and Javan, and Thubal, and Meshek, and
Thiras. And the names of their provinces,3 Afriki, and
Germania, and Medi, and Makadonia, and Iatinia,* and
Asia, and Tharki. And the sons of Gomer, Ashkenaz,
and Biphath, and Togarma. And the sons of Javan,
Elisha, Alas, and Tarsas, Akazia, and Dordonia.
[Jerusalem. The sons of Japheth, Gomer ; and the
name of their provinces, Afriki, and Garmania, and
Madai, and Mokdonia, and Yatania, and Asia, and
Tharki. And the sons of Gomer, and the name of
their provinces, Asia and Pharkui (Phrygia ?) and Bar-
beria. And the sons of Javan, Elisha, and the name
of their provinces, Alastarasom, Italia, and Dordonia.]
From these were distributed the tribes of the islands
of the Gentiles, every one according to his language, to
his kindred in their nations. And the sons of Cham,
Kush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Kenaan. And the
name of their provinces, Arabia, and Mizraim, and
Alichrok, and Kenaan. And the sons of Kush, Seba,
and Havilah, and Sabta, and Baama, and Sabteka ; and
the name of their provinces, Sinirai, and Hindiki, and
Semadi, and Lubai, and Zingai. And the sons of
On the ethnographic details of this tenth chapter of Genesis, com¬
pare Midrash Rabba, f. 32, a; Talmud Jerus., megilla 5, b; the dis¬
quisition of Leopold Dukes, Beitrage z. Geschichte der altesten
Auslegung des Alten Test., band ii., 51 ; and that of De. Kalisch, in
his Commentary on the chapter.
* Iparkaiolh, i. q. lirapx'ta.
* Athenia ? We have retained the uncouth spelling of the Targumist.
ON GENESIS.
187
x.]
Mauritinos, Zmargad and Mezag. And Kush begat
Nimrod : he began to be mighty in sin, and to rebel
before the Lord in the earth. He was a mighty rebel
before the Lord ; therefore it is said, From the day that
the world was created there hath not been as Nimrod,
mighty in hunting, and a rebel before the Lord. And
the beginning of his kingdom was Bavel the Great, and
Hadas, and Netsibin, and Ketispon, in the land of Pon-
tos. Prom that land went forth Nimrod, and reigned
in Athur, because he would not be in the counsel of a
divided generation. And he left those four cities ; and
the Lord thereupon gave him a place ; and he builded
four other cities, Nineveh and Pelatiath, Kartha and
Parioth. And Talesar, which was builded between
Nineveh and Hadiath; that is a great city. And
Mizraim begat the Nivatee, and the Mariotee, and the
Livakee, and the Pantascinee, and the Pathrosim, and
the Nasiotaee, and the Pantapolotee, from whom went
forth the Philistaee and the Kaphodikaee.
[Jerusalem. 9. He was mighty in hunting and in
sin before the Lord ; for he was a hunter of the sons
of men in their languages. And he said to them,
Leave the judgments of Shem, and adhere to the
judgments of Nimrod. On this account it is said.
As Nimrod the mighty, mighty in hunting and in
sin before the Lord . 10. And the beginning of
his kingdom was Bavel, and Hadas, and Netsibin,
and Katispa in the land of Bavel. 11. Prom that
land he went out towards Athur, and builded Nineveh,
and Pelatiath-Kartha, and Hadiath . And Talesar,
between Nineveh and Hadiath, which is a great
city . 13. And Mizraim begat the Mariotaee, and
Pentepolitaee, and Lusetaee, and Pelusaee, and the Pan-
taskenaee, from whom went forth the Philistaee and
Kapodekaee.]
188 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
And Kenaan begat Zidon his firstborn, and Heth,
and the Jebusaee, and the Emoraee, and the Gergeshaee,
and the Hivaee, and the Irkaee, and the Antosaee, and
the Lutasaee, and the Chomtsaee, and the Antekoee;
and after then the seed of the Kenaanaee were
scattered.
[Jerusalem. 17. And the Tripolaee, and the
Arkaee, and the Kaphrusaee. And the Antridanaee,
and the Chamatsaee, and the Antukeia : from Bavel,
after then, were distinguished the islands of the peoples.]
And the limit of the Kenaanaee w7as from Kothanis,
going up to Gerar, unto Azah, unto Sedom and
Amorah, Admah and Zeboim, unto Kaldahi. These
are the sons of Cham, according to the seed of their
genealogies, after their languages, in the dwelling of
their lands, in the kindred of their people.]
And to Shem also was born a son. He is the father
of all the sons of the Hebrews, the brother of Japheth,
great in the fear of the Lord. The sons of Shem :
Elim, and Athur, and Arphakshad, and Lud, and Aram.
Arphakshad begat Shelach, and Shelach begat Eber.
And to Eber were born two sons : the name of the one
was Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided ;
and the name of the other Joktan. And Joktan begat
Elmodad, who measured (or lined) the earth with lines ;
and Shaleph, who led forth the waters of rivers, and
Chatsarmaveth, and Jarach, and Harodam, and Uzal,
and Dikla, and Oval, and Avimael, and Sheba, and
Ophir, and Havila, and Jobab. All these are the sons
of Joktan. And the house of their dwelling was from
Mesha, by which thou goest up to Sepharvae, a moun¬
tain of the east. These are the sons of Shem, accord¬
ing to their houses, in the dwelling of their lauds,
according to the kindred of their people. These are
the houses of the sons of Noah, according to their
XI.] ON GENESIS. 189
houses in their peoples, and from them are the peoples
distinguished in the earth after the deluge.
XI. And all the earth was (of) one language, and
one speech, and one counsel. In the holy language
spake they, that by which the world had been created
at the beginning. And it was while they were journey¬
ing from the east that they found a plain in the land
of Bavel, and dwelt there.
[Jerusalem. And all the inhabiters of the earth
were (of) one language, and of one speech, and one
counsel : for they spake the holy language by which
the world was created at the beginning : while their
hearts erred afterwards from the Word of Him who
spake, and the world was, at the beginning ; and they
found a plain in the land of Pontos and dwelt there.]
And they said, a man to his fellow, Come, we will
cast bricks, and put them in the furnace. And they
had brick for stone, and slime for cement. And they
said, Come, we will build us a city and a tower, and the
head of it shall come to the summit of the heavens ; and
we will make us (an image for) worship on the top of
it, and put a sword in his hand to act against the array
of war, before that we be scattered on the face of the
earth. And the Lord was revealed to punish them for
the work of the city and the tower which the sons of men
builded.
[Jerusalem. And they said, Come now, and we
will build us a city and a tower, and the head of it shall
reach to the summit of the heavens, and we will make
us in it a house of worship at the top, . and we will
put a sword in his hand, lest there be set against him
the array of war, before we be scattered upon the face
of all the earth.]
And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and the
language of all of them one : and this they have thought
190 TAUGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
to do : and now they will not be restrained from doing
whatever they imagine. And the Lord said to the
seventy angels which stand before Him, Come, we will
descend and will there commingle their language, that a
man shall not understand the speech of his neighbour.
And the Word of the Lord was revealed against the
city, and with Him seventy angels, having reference to
seventy nations, each having its own language, and thence
the writing of its own hand : and He dispersed them
from thence upon the face of all the earth into seventy
languages. And one knew not what his neighbour
would say: but one slew the other; and they ceased
from building the city. Therefore He called the name
of it Bavel,4 because there did the Lord commingle the
speech of all the inhabitants of the earth, and from
thence did the Lord disperse them upon the faces of all
the earth.
These are the generations of Shem. Shem was a son
of a hundred years, and he begat Arphakshad, two years
after the deluge. And Shem lived after he had begotten
Arphakshad five hundred years, and begat sons and
daughters. And Arphakshad lived thirty and five years,
and begat Shelach. And Arphakshad lived after he had
begotten Shelach four hundred and thirty years, and
begat sons and daughters. And Shelach lived thirty
years, and begat Eber. And Shelach lived after he had
begotten Eber four hundred and three years, and begat
sons and daughters. And Eber lived thirty-four years,
and begat Peleg. And Eber lived after he had begotten
Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons
and daughters. And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat
Reu. And Peleg lived after he had begotten Reu two
hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.
And Reu lived thirty -two years, and begat Serug. And
4 “Confusion.”
ON GENESIS.
191
XI.]
Eeu lived after lie had begotten Serug two hundred and
seven years, and begat sons and daughters. And Serug
lived thirty years, and begat Nahor. And Serug lived
after he had begotten Nahor two hundred years, and
begat sons and daughters. And Nahor lived twenty-
nine years, and begat Terah. And Nahor lived after he
had begotten Terah one hundred and sixteen years, and
begat sons and daughters. And Terah lived seventy
years, and begat Abram and Nahor and Haran.
These are the generations of Terah. Terah begat
Abram, Nahor, and Haran ; and Haran begat Lot. And it
was when Nimrod had cast Abram into the furnace of fire
because he would not worship his idol, and the fire had no
power to burn him,5 that Haran' s heart became doubtful,
saying, If Nimrod overcome, I will be on his side: but if
Abram overcome, I will be on his side. And when all the
people who were there saw that the fire had no power over
Abram, they said in their hearts, Is not Haran the brother
of Abram full of divinations and charms, and has he not
5 "Abram, being brought before Nimrod, was required by the tyrant
to worship the fire. e Great king/ said the father of the faithful, ‘ would it
not be better to worship water ? It is mightier than fire, having the power
to quench it/ ‘Worship the water then/ said Nimrod. Abram.
* Methinks it would be more reasonable to worship the clouds, since they
carry the waters, and pour them down on the earth.’ Nimrod. ‘Well,
then, worship the clouds, which, by thy own confession, have so great
power.’ Abram. ‘ Nay, if power is to be the object of worship, the prefer¬
ence should be given to the wind, which by its greater force drives the
clouds before it.’ Nimrod. * I see we shall never have done with this
babbler. Worship the wind, then, and we will forgive thy former
profaueness.’ Abram. * Be not angry, great king : I cannot worship the
fire, nor the water, nor the clouds, nor the wind, nor any of the things
that thou callest gods. The power they possess is derived from a Being
who has all power and mercy and love : the Creator of Heaven and
Earth, Him only will I worship.’ ‘Then,’ said the king, ‘since
thou hast refused to adore the fire, thou shalt know for thyself its mighty
force.’ So Abram was thrown into a fiery furnace, but God delivered
him from its flames.” — Bereshith Rabbet,.
192 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
uttered spells over the fire that it should not burn his
brother ? Immediately ( min yad , out of hand) there fell
fire from the high heavens and consumed him; and Haran
died in the sight of Terah his father, where he was burned
in the land of his nativity, in the furnace of fire which
the Kasdai had made for Abram his brother.
And Abram and Nahor took to them wives: the name
of Abram's wife was Sara, and the name of the wife of
Nahor, Milcha, the daughter of Haran, the father of
Milcha and the father of Iska, who is Sara. And Sara
was barren, she had no child. [Jerusalem. And
Sara was barren, she had no son.] And Terah took
Abram his son, and Lot bar Haran, the son of his son,
and his daughter-in-law Sara the wife of Abram his son,
and went forth with them from Ura of the Kasdai, to
go to the land of Kenaan. And they came unto Haran,
and dwelt there. And the days of Terah were two
hundred and five years. And Terah died in Haran.
SECTION III.
LECH LECHA.
XII. And the Lord said to Abram, Go thou from
thy land ; separate thyself from thy kindred ; go forth
from the house of thy father; go into the land which I
will show thee. And I will make thee a great people,
and will bless thee, and magnify thy name, and thou
shalt be blessed.
[Jerusalem. And I will constitute thee a great
people, and I will bless thee; and Abram shall be
strengthened with many blessings.]
ON GENESIS.
193
XII.]
And I will bless the priests who will spread forth
their hands in prayer, and bless thy sons ; and Bileam,
who will curse them, I will curse, and they shall slay
him with the mouth of the sword ; and in thee shall be
blessed all the generations of the earth. [Jerusalem.
And I will bless him who blesseth thee, and he who
curseth thee shall be accursed ; and in thy righteous¬
ness shall all the generations of the earth be blessed.]
And Abram went, according as the Lord had spoken
with him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was
the son of seventy and five years at his going forth from
Haran. And Abram took Sara his wife, and Lot his
brother's son, and all the substance which they had
acquired, and the souls whom they had proselyted in
Haran, and went forth to go to the land of Kenaan.
And they came to the land of Kenaan. [Jerusalem.
And the souls of the proselytes.] And Abram passed
through the land unto the place of Shekem, unj/b the
plain which had been showed. [Jerusalem. The plain
(or valley) of vision.] And the Kenaanites were then
in the land ; for the time had not yet come that the
sons of Israel should possess it. And the Lord was
revealed unto Abram, and said, To thy sons will I give
this land. And he budded there an altar before the
Lord, who was revealed to him. And he went up from
thence to a mountain which was eastward of Bethel, and
outspread his tent, having Bethel on the west and Ai on
the east ; and he builded there an altar before the Lord,
and prayed in the Name of the Lord. And Abram
migrated, going and migrating unto the south.
And there was a famine in the land, and Abram w^ent
down into Mizraim to be a dweller there, because the famine
was strong in the land. And it was, as he approached
to enter the limit of Mizraim, and they had come to the
river, and were uncovering their flesh to pass over, that
194 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
Abram said to Sara his wife, Behold, until this I have
not beheld thy flesh ; but now I know that thou art a
woman of fair aspect. It will be, therefore, when the
Mizraee see thee, and view thy beauty, that they will
say, This is his wife ; and they will kill me, and thee
will keep alive. Say, I pray, that thou art my sister,
that it may be well with me for thy sake, and that my
life may be spared on thy account. And it was when
Abram had entered Mizraim, the Mizraee saw the
woman to be very fair ; and the princes of Pharoh
beheld her, and praised her to Pharoh ; and the woman
was conducted to the royal house of Pharoh. [Jeru¬
salem. And the woman was conducted to the palace
of Pharoh.] And Pharoh did good to Abram for her
sake ; and he had sheep, and oxen, and asses, and
servants, and handmaids, and she-asses, and camels.
And the Word of the Lord sent great plagues against
Pharoh and the men of his house, on account of Sara,
Abram's wife. And Pharoh called Abram, and said,
What is this that thou hast done to me ? Why saidst
thou, She is my sister ? When I would take her to me
to wife, plagues were at once sent against me, and I
went not unto her. And now behold thy wife, take
(her) and go. And Pharoh commanded men concern¬
ing him, and they led him forth, and his wife, and all
that he had.
XIII. And Abram went up from Mizraim, he and
his wife (and) all that he had ; and Lot with him, to
go to the south. And Abram had become very strong
in cattle, in silver, and in gold. And he proceeded in
his journeyings from the south unto Bethel, and
returned to the place where he had outspread his taber¬
nacle at the first, between Bethel and Ai, to the place
of the altar which he had made there at the beginning ;
and Abram prayed there in the Name of the Lord.
ON GENESIS,
XIII.]
195
And also unto Lot, who was remembered through the
righteousness of Abram, there were sheep and oxen and
tents. And the land could not sustain them to dwell
together, because their possessions were great, and they
were not able to dwell together. And contentions
arose between the shepherds of Abram's flock, and the
shepherds of the flocks of Lot ; for the shepherds of
Abram had been instructed by him not to go among
the Kenaanaee and the Pherizaee, who, as yet, had power
in the land, and to restrain the cattle that they should
make no depredation in going to the place of their
pasture : but the shepherds of Lot would go and feed
in the grounds of the Kenaanaee and Pherizaee who
yet dwelt in the land. [Jerusalem. 6. Their trea¬
sures. 7. And there was strife between the shep¬
herds of Abram's cattle and the shepherds of the cattle
of Lot. The shepherds of Abram restrained their
beasts until the time of their coming to the place of
their pasture ; but the shepherds of Lot did not restrain
their beasts, but turned them free, and went. Put
Abram's shepherds had been instructed by Abram their
righteous master, Go not to the Kenaanaee and Phe¬
rizaee ; for as yet they have possession in the land.]
And Abram said to Lot, Between me and thee let
there not now be controversy, nor between my shepherds
and thy shepherds ; for we are brother-men. Is not all
the land before thee ? Separate then from me. If
thou to the north, I to the south : if thou to the south,
I to the north. And Lot uplifted his eyes towards (the
place of) fornication ; and beheld all the plain of Jar-
dena that it was altogether well watered,6 before the
Lord in his wrath had destroyed Sedom and Amorah •
i land admirable for trees, as the garden of the Lord,’
md for fruitage, as the land of Mizraim as thou goest
* “ A place of waters.”
196 TAKGTJM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
up to Zoar. And Lot chose to him all the plain of
Jardena; and Lot journeyed from the east, and they
separated the one man from his brother. Abram
dwelt in the land of Kenaan, and Lot dwelt in the
towns of the plain, and spread his tabernacle towards
Sedom. And the men of Sedom were depraved, in their
wealth one with another, and they sinned in their
bodies ; they sinned with open nakedness, and the
shedding of innocent blood, and practised strange wor¬
ship, and rebelled greatly against the name of the Lord.
And the Lord said to Abram, after that Lot had
separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look,
from the place where thou art, to the north and to the
south, to the east and to the west : for all the land that
thou seest will I give unto thee, and to thy sons, for
ever. And I will make thy sons manifold as the dust
of the earth, as that, as it is impossible for a man to
number the dust of the earth, so also it shall be impos¬
sible to number thy sons. Arise, journey in the land,
and make occupation of it in length and breadth ; for
to thee will I give it. And Abram stretched his tent
(and made folds) for oxen and sheep, and came and
dwelt in the vale of Mamre which is in Hebron, and
builded there an altar before the Lord.
XIV. And it was in the days of Amraphel, — he is
Nimrod, who commanded Abram to be cast into the
furnace; he was then king of Pontos ; Ariok, (so
called) because he was ( arik ) tall among the giants,
king of Thalasar, Kedarlaomer, (so called) because7 he
had bound himself (or gone over) among the bondmen
of the king of Elam, and Thidal, crafty as a fox, king
of the peoples subjected to him,8 — made war with Bera,
7 Keshar, “ to bind,” changed to kedar , with the name Elam or
Olam ; — a dubious etymology.
8 The gloss on each name is derived from the root.
ON GENESIS.
197
XIV.]
whose deeds were evil, king of Sedom, and with Birsha,
whose deeds were with the wicked, king of Amora :
Shinab, who had hated his father, king of Admah, and
Shemebar, who had corrupted himself with fornication,
king of Zeboim; and the king of the city which con¬
sumed (Bela) the dwellers thereof, which is Zoar. All
these were joined in the vale of the gardens (jt mredesaia),
the place that produced the streamlets of waters that
empty themselves into the sea of salt. Twelve years
they had served Kedarlaomer ; and in the thirteenth
year they had rebelled. And in the fourteenth year
came Kedarlaomer and the kings who were with him,
and smote the Giants (gibboraia) which were in Ashta-
roth-Karniam, and the Strong who were in Hametha,
and the Terrible who were in the plain of Kiriathaim,
and the Choraee (dwellers in caverns) who were in the
high mountains of Gebala, unto the valley of Pharan,
which was nigh upon the edge of the desert. [Jeru¬
salem. 3. All these were joined in the valley of the
gardens. 5. And they slew the giants who were in
Ashtaroth-Karnaim,9 the famed 10 who were among them,
and the formidable who inhabited the city which they
had built, and the cavern people who dwelt in the
mountain of Gebala, unto the valley of vision which is
nigh upon the desert.]
And they returned, and came to the place where was
rendered the judgment of Mosheh the prophet, to the
fountain of the waters of Strife, which is Requam. And
they smote all the tields of the Amalkaee, and also the
Emoraee, who dwelt in En-gedi. And the king of
Sedom, and the king of Amorah, and the king of
Admah, and the king of Zeboim, and the king of the
city which consumed its inhabitants, which is Zoar,
9 “ The horned A'shtaroth,” i. e., the Moon and Venus.
10 Or, “ illustrious.”
198 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
went forth, and set the array of battle against them in
the valley of the gardens ; with Kedarlaomer king of
Elam, and Thidal king of the nations obedient to him,
and Amraphel king of Pontos, and Ariok king of
Thelasar ; four kings arrayed in battle against five.
[Jerusalem. And Amraphel king of Pontos, and
Ariok king of Elasar : four kings against five spread
out the array of war.] And the valley of the gardens
had many pits filled with bitumen : [Jerusalem. The
valley of the gardens was full of pits of bitumen :] and
the kings of Sedom and Amora fled away, and fell
there ; and they who were left fled to the mountain^.
And they took all the property of Sedom and Amora,
and all their food, and went. And they made captive
Lot the son of Abram's brother, and his property, and
went. And he had dwelt in Sedom.
And Og came,1 who had been spared from the giants
that died in the deluge, and had ridden protected upon
the top of the ark, and sustained with food by Noah;
not being spared through his righteousness, but that
the inhabitants of the world might see the power of the
Lord, and say, Were there not giants who in the first
times rebelled against the Lord of the world, and
perished from the earth ? But when these kings made
wrar, behold, Og, wrho was with them, said in his heart,
I will go and show Abram concerning Lot, who is led
captive, that he may come and deliver him from the hands
of the kings into whose hands he has been delivered.
And he arose and came, upon the eve of the day of
the Pascha, and found him making the unleavened cakes.
Then showed he to Abram the Hebrew, who dwelt in
1 “ Beside Noah, Og the king of Bashan was saved ; for he laid hold
on one of the beams of the ark, and sware to Noah that he and his
posterity would serve him as hondmen. Noah made an opening through
the wall of the ark, and gave Og some food daily : for it is written,
Ouly Og the king of Bashan survived of all the giants/’ — Midrash.
ON GENESIS.
399
XIV.]
the valleys of Mamre Amoraah, brother of Eshkol and
brother of Aner, who were men of covenant with
Abram. And when Abram heard that his brother was
made captive, he armed his young men who were trained
for war, grown up in his house ; but they willed not to
go with him. And he chose from them Eliezer the son
of Nimrod, who was equal in strength to all the three
hundred and eighteen ; and he pursued unto Dan.
[Jerusalem. Domestics ( marbitsi , down-liers) of his
house, eighteen and three hundred, and pursued after
them unto Dan of Kisarion.] And he divided them at
night in the way ; a part were to engage with the kings,
and a part were hidden to smite the firstborn of Egypt.
And he arose, he and his servants, and smote them, and
pursued them which remained of them unto (the place)
of the memorial of sin which was to be in Dan, from
the north of Darmesek. [Jerusalem. And he pur¬
sued them unto Havetha, which is from the north of
Darmesek.] And he brought back all the substance,
and also Lot his brother and his substance he brought
back, and also the women and the people. And the
king of Sedom came forth, after that he returned from
destroying Kedarlaomer and the kings who were with
him, to meet him at the plain of Mephana, which was
the king^s race-course.2 [Jerusalem. And the kings
who were with him, at the plain of vision which was
the house of the king’s plain.]
And Malka Zadika, who was Shem bar Noah, the
king of Yerushalem, came forth to meet Abram, and
brought forth to him bread and wine ; and in that time
he ministered before Eloha Ilaha.3 [Jerusalem. And
Malki Zedek, king of Yerushalem, who was Shem, who
was the great priest of the Most High.] And he
blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the Lord
2 Beth risa da malka. 3 “ God the Most High,”
200 TARGUM OP PALESTINE [CHAP.
God Most High, who for the righteous possesseth the
heavens and the earth. And blessed be Eloha Ilaha,
who hath made thine enemies as a shield which re-
ceiveth a blow. And he gave to him one of ten, of all
which he brought back.
And the king of Sedom said to Abram, Give me the
souls of the men of my people whom thou hast brought
back, and the substance take to thyself. [Jerusalem.
And the treasure take to thee.] And Abram said to
the king of Sedom, I have uplifted my hands in an oath
before the Lord God the Most High, who for the just
possesseth his possession of the heavens and the earth,
if from a thread to the latchet of a sandal I receive
any thing of all that is thine ; lest thou magnify thyself
in saying, I have enriched Abram from mine own.
Have I not power over all the spoil ? — Apart from what
the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men
who went with me, Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre, they
also receiving their portion. [Jerusalem. If from a
thread to the latchet of a sandal I receive of all that is
thine : that thou magnify not thyself and say, I have
enriched Abram.}
XV. After these words, when the kings had gathered
together, and had fallen before Abram ; and four kings
had been slain, and nine hosts brought back, Abram
reasoned in his heart, and said, Woe to me, because I
have received the reward of my appointments in this
world, and have no portion in the world to come. Or
peradventure the brethren and friends of those who
have been slain will combine in legions and come
against me; or that at that time there was found with
me the reward of a little righteousness, so that they fell
before me ; but the second time reward may not be
found with me, and by me the name of the Heavens
may be profaned. Thereupon was the word Q mthgama)
ON GENESIS.
201
XV.]
of the Lord with Abram in a vision, saying, Pear not ;
for if these men should gather together in legions and
come against thee, My Word ( Memra ) will be thy shield :
and also if these fall before thee in this world, the re¬
ward of thy good works shall be kept, and be prepared
before Me in the world to come, great exceedingly.
And Abram said, Lord God, great blessings hast
Thou given me, and great (are they which it is) before
Thee to give me : nevertheless, what profit is to me, when
I pass from the world without children, and Eliezer the
manager [bar pharnasath, the son of sustenance) of my
house, by whose hands signs were wrought for (or to)
me in Darmasek, expects to be my heir ? And Abram
said, Behold, to me Thou hast not given a son; and,
behold, the manager of my house will be my heir.
And, behold, a word from before the Lord was to him,
saying, He shall not be thine heir ; but a son whom
thou wilt beget shall be thy heir. And He brought him
forth without, and said, Look up now to the heavens,
and number the stars, if thou art able to number them :
and he said, So will be thy sons. And he believed in
the Lord, and had faith in the [Memra) Word of the
Lord, and He reckoned it to him for righteousness (li-
zeku), because he parleyed not before him with words.
, And He said to him, I am the Lord who brought thee
out of the fiery furnace of the Kasdai, to give thee this
land to inherit. And he said, Lord God, by what may
I know that I shall be the heir of it ? And He said,
Bring Me oblations, and offer before Me an heifer of
three years, and a goat of three years, a ram of three
years, and a dove, and the young of a pigeon. And he
brought all these before Him, and divided them in the
midst, and set in order every division over against its
fellow ; but the fowl he divided not. And there came
down idolatrous peoples which are like to unclean birds,
202 TARGUM OP PALESTINE [CHAP.
to steal away the sacrifices of Israel ; but the righteous¬
ness of Abram was a shield over them. And when the
sun was nearing to set, a deep sleep was thrown upon
Abram : and, behold, four kingdoms arose to enslave
his children : Terror, which is Bavel; Darkness, which
is Madai ; 4 Greatness, which is Javan ; 8 Decline,6 which
is Pheras,7 which is to fall, and to have no uplifting,
and from whence it is to be that the children of Israel
will come up. And he said to Abram, Knowing, thou
must know, that thy sons shall dwell in a land not their j
own, because thou hast not believed, and they will sub- ;
jugate and afflict them four hundred years; and also j
that the people whom they shall serve I will judge with '
two hundred and fifty plagues, and afterwards they shall 1
go forth into liberty with great riches. And thou shalt 1
be gathered to thy fathers, thy soul shall rest in peace, ]
and thou shalt be buried in a good old age. And in ]
the fourth generation of thy sons they will return hither ]
to inherit ; because the guilt of the Amoraah is not yet
complete. And when the sun had set there was dark- j
ness. And, behold, Abram saw Gehinnam ascending, i
smoke with flaming coals and burning flakes of fire, 1
wherewith the wicked are to be judged. And, behold, 1
He passed between those divisions.
[Jerusalem. 1. After these words, when all the I
kings of the lands, and the sultans of the provinces, 1
had gathered together, and had made war against I
Abram the Just, and had fallen before him, and he had 1
slain of them four kings, and had brought back nine 1
hosts, did Abram the Just reason in his heart, and say, 1
Woe, now, to me, because I have received the reward 1
ordained in the present world, and have no portion in *
the world to come. Or perad venture the brethren and
kindred of the slain who have fallen before me, who are
4 Media. 5 Greece. 6 Nep/itla, “falling.” 7 Persia.
ON GENESIS.
203
XV.]
in their cities and provinces, will combine in great
legions, and come against me; or peradventure there
were in my hand a few commandments in the former
times, so that they fell before me when they had risen
up against me; or it may be that righteousness was
found in me at the former times, that they fell before
me, but at the second time it may not be found, and
the Heavenly Name will be profaned in me. Then was
the word of prophecy from the Lord unto Abram the
Eighteous, saying, Lear not, Abram, though they should
gather together and come against thee with many
legions, My Word shall be thy reward and thy shield
in this world, and a protector over thee all the days of
the world to come. And though I deliver up thy
adversaries before thee in this world, the reward of thy
good works is prepared for thee also before Me in the
world to come.
2. And Abram said. Before Thee I supplicate
mercy, O Lord God. Manifold blessings Thou hast
given me, and many hast Thou before Thee still to give :
nevertheless, what profit have I who go from the world
childless, and Eliezer, the son of my house, by whose
hands signs were wrought for me in Damasek, expecteth
in himself to be my heir? 7. And He said to him,
I am the Lord who brought thee out of the fiery
furnace from Ur of the Kasdai. 9. And a turtle and
a young pigeon. 10-12. And He brought before
him all these, and divided them into divisions, and set
one part over against its fellow; but the fowl He
divided not. And when the birds descended, they came
not nigh the divisions : those birds are unclean fowl,
and those unclean fowl are the kingdoms of the earth
which are worshippers of idols, and which counsel evil
counsels against the sons of Israel ; but the integrity of
the righteous Abram hindered them. And when the
204 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
sun was going to set, a sleep profound and sweet fell
upon Abram. And, behold, Abram saw four kingdoms
which should arise to bring his sons into subjection
(and) Terror — the Greatness — of Darkness — Pell — upon
him : Terror, that is Bavel ; Darkness, that is Media ;
Greatness, that is Greece ; Fell, that is Edom, (Rome,)
that fourth kingdom which is to Fall, and never to
rise again for ever and ever. 17. And, behold, the
sun went to set, and there was darkness, and Abram
beheld till the seats were arrayed and the thrones set
forth. And lo, Gehinam, which was prepared for the
wicked in the world to come, enveloped in burning
flakes and flames of fire, into which the wicked had
fallen when in their lives they rebelled against the law,
while the just who had kept it had been delivered from
affliction. And all were seen by Abram while He
passed between those divisions.]
In that day the Lord ordained a covenant with
Abram, that He would not judge therein his sons, but
w7ould deliver them from the kingdom, saying, To thy
sons will I give this land, from Nilos of Mizraim unto
the great river, the river Pherath, the Shalmia, and the
Kenizah, and the Kadmonaah, and the Hittaee, and the
Pherizaee, and the Gibaraee, and the Emoraee, and the
Kenaanaee, and the Girgeshaee, and the Jebusaee.
[Jerusalem. And all the sons of the East.]
XVI. But Sara, the wife of Abram, had not borne
to him. But he had a handmaid, a Mizreitha, and her
name was Hagar, a daughter of Pharoh,8 whom he gave
to him as a handmaid at the time that he received her,
being struck by the word from before the Lord. And
8 According to the Midrash , Hagar had been given as a slave to
Abraham by her father, the Pharaoh of Egypt, who said, “ My daughter
had better he a slave in the house of Abram, than mistress iu any
other.”
ON GENESIS.
205
XVI.]
Sara said to Abram, Behold, now, the Lord hath
restrained me from bearing, go to my handmaid and set
her free ; perhaps I may be budded by her. And
Abram hearkened to the word of Sara. And Sara the
wife of Abram took Hagar the Mizreitha handmaid,
when Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Kenaan,
and set her free, and gave her to Abram her husband to
wife. And he went unto Hagar, and she conceived ;
and she saw that she had conceived, and the honour of
her mistress was despised in her eyes.
And Sara said to Abram, All my affliction is from
thee. Being secure that thou wouldst do me justice, I
left the land and house of my father, and came up with
thee to a foreign land ; and forasmuch as I was not able
to become a mother, I set free my handmaid, and gave
her to lie in thy bosom ; and she seeth that she hath
conceived, and mine honour is despised before her.
But now is my affliction manifest before the Lord, who
will spread peace between me and thee, and the land
shall be replenished from us, nor shall we need the help
of the progeny of Hagar the daughter of Pharoh bar
Nimrod, who threw thee into the furnace of fire.
[Jerusalem. And Sara said, My judgment and my
affliction are delivered into thine hand. I left the house
of my birth, and the house of my father, and came with
thee in the faith of the Heavens. I have gone in with
thee before kings; before Pharoh King of Mizraim, and
before Avimelek king of the Philistaee ; and I have said
of thee, He is my brother, so that they might not kill
thee. And when I saw7 that I was not made fruitful, I
took Hagar the Mizreitha, my handmaid, and gave her
to thee to wife, and said, She shall bring forth, and I
will bring up whom she may bear, that I may be
builded, be it only from her. But now seeing that she
hath conceived, my honour is contemned and despised
206 TARGTTM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
in her sight. Now may the Lord appear, and judge
between me and thee, and fulfil mercies upon me and
thee, and spread His peace between me and thee, and
replenish the world from me and from thee, that we may
not heed the son of Hagar the Mizreitha handmaid, who
is of the children of the people who cast thee into the
burning furnace of the Kasdin.]
And Abram said to Sara, Behold, thy handmaid is
under thy authority : do to her what is right in thine
eyes. And Sara afflicted her, and she escaped from
before her. And the Angel of the Lord found her at
the fountain of waters in the desert ; at the fountain of
waters which is in the way to Chagra. [Jerusalem.
Chalitza.] And He said, Hagar, handmaid of Sara,
whence comest thou, and whither dost thou go ? And
she said, From before Sara my mistress I have escaped.
And the Angel of the Lord said to her, Return to thy
mistress, and be subject under her hand. And the
Angel of the Lord said to her. Multiplying I will
multiply thy sons, and they shall not be numbered for
multitude. And the Angel of the Lord said to her,
Behold, thou art with child, and thou wilt bear a son,
and thou shalt call his name Ishmael, because thy
affliction is revealed before the Lord. And he shall be
like the wild ass among men : his hands shall take
vengeance of his adversaries, and the hands of his
adversaries be put forth to do him evil ; and in the
presence of all his brethren shall he be commingled,
( yitharbeb , Arabized,) and shall dwell. And she
gave thanks before the Lord whose Word spake to her,
and thus said, Thou art He who livest and art eternal ;
who seest, but art not seen ! for she said, Bor, behold,
here is revealed the glory of the Shekina of the Lord
after a vision. [Jerusalem. And Hagar gave thanks,
and prayed in the Name of the Word of the Lord, who
ON GENESIS.
207
XVII.]
had been manifested to her, saying, Blessed be Thou,
Eloha, the Living One of all Ages, who hast looked
upon my affliction. Eor she said. Behold, Thou art
manifested also unto me, even as Thou wast manifested
to Sara my mistress.] Wherefore she called the well.
The Well at which the Living and Eternal One was
revealed ; and, behold, it is situate between Rekam and
Chalutsa. And Hagar bare Abram a son, and Abram
called the name of his son whom Hagar bare, Ishmael.
And Abram was the son of eighty-six years when Hagar
bare Ishmael to Abram.
XVII. And Abram was the son of ninety and nine
years, and the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to
him, I am El Shadai ; serve before Me and be perfect
(shetim) in thy flesh. And I will set My covenant
between My Word and thee, and will multiply thee very
greatly. And because Abram was not circumcised, he
was not able to stand, but he bowed himself upon his
face ; and the Lord spake with him, saying, Behold, I
have confirmed (or divided) my covenant with thee ;
and thou shalt be the father of many peoples. And
thy name shall be no more called Abram, but Abraham
shall be thy name, because to be the father of a great
multitude of peoples have I appointed thee. And I
will make thee exceeding fruitful, and will set thee for
congregations ; and kings ruling over peoples shall come
forth from thee. And I have established My covenant
between My Word and thee, and thy sons after thee in
their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be a
God to thee and to thy sons after thee. And I will
give to thee and to thy sons after thee the land of thy
habitation, all the land of Kenaan, for an everlasting
possession : and I will be to them Eloha. And the Lord
said to Abraham, And thou shalt observe my covenant,
thou and thy sons after thee in their generations. This
208 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
is My covenant, that you shall observe between My
Word and you, and your sons after you : — Every male of
you being circumcised, though he have not a father to
circumcise him. And you shall circumcise the flesh of
your foreskin, as a sign of the covenant between My
Word and you. And the son of eight days shall be cir¬
cumcised among you, every male in your generations ;
from him who is brought up in your house, or bought
with your silver, unto evSry son of the peoples who is
not of you. He who is circumcised shall circumcise
him who is brought up among you, or bought with your
silver ; and it shall be My covenant in your flesh for a
covenant for ever. And the uncircumcised male who
is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, unless,
he have some one to circumcise him, that man shall be
cut off from his people; he hath made My covenant to
pass away. And the Lord said to Abraham, The name
of Sara thy wife shall be no more called Sara ; for Sarah
shall be her name. And I will bless her in her body,
and will also give from her a soil to thee, and I will
bless him, and he shall be for assemblies, and kings
ruling over nations shall be from her.
And Abraham fell on his face, and wondered, and said
in his heart, Shall the son of a hundred years have
progeny, and Sarah, the daughter of ninety years, bear
a child ? [Jerusalem. And Abraham bowed upon his
face, and wondered.] And Abraham said before the
Lord, May not Ishmael be established, and serve before
Thee ? And the Lord said, In truth Sarah thy wife
shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name
Izhak ; and with him I will confirm My covenant for
an everlasting covenant to his sons after him. And
concerning Ishmael I have heard thy prayer. Behold,
I have blessed him ; and I will spread him abroad, and
multiply him very greatly. Twelve princes shall he
ON GENESIS.
XVIII.]
209
beget, and I will give him to be a great people. But
My covenant will I establish with Izhak, whom Sarah
shall bear to thee at this time in the year after. And
He ceased speaking with him ; and the Glory of the
Lord ascended from Abraham.
And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all brought
up in his house, and all bought with money, every male
among the household people of Abraham, and he cir¬
cumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the same day in
which the Lord spake with him. And Abraham was
the son of ninety and nine years when he circumcised
the flesh of his foreskin. In the same day, in the
fourteenth year, was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael
his son. And every man of his house, the house-
trained, and the purchased with money of the sons of
the people, was circumcised with him.
SECTION IV.
VAYERA.
And the glory of the Lord was revealed to him in the
valley of Mamre ; and he, being ill from the pain of
circumcision, sat at the door of the tabernacle in the
fervour (or strength) of the day. And he lifted up his
eyes and looked, and, behold, three angels in the re¬
semblance of men were standing before him ; (angels)
who had been sent from the necessity of three things ;
— because it is not possible fora ministering angel to be
sent for more than one purpose at a time ; — one, then,
had come to make known to him that Sarah should bear
a man-child ; one had come to deliver Lot ; and one to
overthrow Sedom and Amorah. And when he saw
210 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
them, he ran to meet them from the door of the tent,
and bowed himself on the earth.
[Jerusalem. Three angels were sent to our father
Abraham ; and the three were sent for three things ;
— because it is not possible that one of the high angels
should be sent for more things than one. The first
angel was sent to announce to our father Abraham,
that, behold, Sarah would bear Izhak ; the second angel
was sent to deliver Lot from the midst of the over¬
throw; the third angel was sent to overthrow Sedom
and Amorah, Admah and Zeboim. Therefore was there
a word of prophecy from before the Lord unto Abraham
the Just, and the Word of the Lord was revealed to him
in the valley of vision ; and he sat in the door of the
tabernacle, comforting himself from his circumcision in
the fervour (or strength) of the day.]
And he said, I beseech, by the mercies (that are)
before Thee, O Lord, if now I have found favour before
Thee, that the glory of Thy shekina may not now
ascend from Thy servant, until I have set forth pro¬
visions under the tree. And I will bring food of bread,
that you may strengthen your hearts, and give thanks
in the Name of the Word of the Lord, and afterwards
pass on. Lor therefore at the time of repast are you
come, and have turned aside to your servant to take
food. And they said, Thou hast spoken well ; do
according to thy word. And Abraham hastened into
the tent unto Sarah, and said to her. Hasten three
measures of flour-meal, mix and make cakes. And unto
the flock ran Abraham, and took a calf, tender and fat,
and gave to a young man, and hastened to make pre¬
pared meats; and he took rich cream and milk and
the calf which the young man had made into pre¬
pared meats, and set them before them, according to the
way and conduct ( hilkath ) of the creatures of the world ;
.XVIII.] ON GENESIS. 211
and lie served before them, and they sat under the tree ;
and he quieted himself (to see) whether they would eat.
And they said to him, Where is Sarah thy wife ?
And he said, Behold, she is in the tent. And One of
them said, Returning I will return to thee in the coming
year ; and you shall be revived, and, behold, Sarah thy
wife shall have a son. And Sarah was hearkening at
the door of the tent, and Ishmael stood behind her, and
marked what the Angel said.
[Jerusalem. And He said, Returning I will return
to thee at that time, to revive you, and, behold, Sarah
thy wife shall have a male child. And Sarah was
hearkening at the door of the tent, and Ishmael stood
behind her.]
But Abraham and Sarah were old, they had mounted
( alu ) in days, and with Sarah the way of women had
ceased. And Sarah wondered in her heart, saying,
After that I am old shall I have conceptions, and my
lord Abraham is old? [Jerusalem. And Sarah de¬
rided in her heart, saying, After that I am old, is it
possible to return to the days of my youth, for me to
have conception, and Abraham old?] And the Lord
said to Abraham, Why hath Sarah so laughed, saying.
Can it be in truth that I shall bear, being old ? Is it
possible to hide anything from before the Lord ? At
the gracious time I will return to thee, in the time when
you shall be revived, and Sarah shall have a son. And
Sarah denied and said, I wondered not ; for she was
afraid. And the Angel said. Bear not : yet in truth
thou didst laugh.
And the angels, who had the likeness of men, arose
from thence, and the one who had made known the
tidings to Sarah ascended to the high heavens; and
two of them looked toward Sedom ; and Abraham went
with them. [Jerusalem. And they looked towards.]
212 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
And the Lord said, with His Word, I cannot hide from
Abraham that which I am about to do ; and it is right
that before I do it, I should make it known to him.
For Abraham is to be a great and mighty people, and
through him shall all the peoples of the earth be blessed.
[Jerusalem. And the Lord with His Word said. Shall
I hide from Abraham, My friend, that which I am about
to do ? Forasmuch as the town of Sedom is among the
gifts that I have given to him, it is just that 1 should
not overthrow it, till I have made it known to him.]
Because his holiness (piety, chas'idutha) is manifest
before Me, (and) that he will instruct his sons, and the
men of his house after him, to keep the ways that are
right before the Lord, to do justice and judgment, that
the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which He hath
spoken concerning him.
And the Lord said to the ministering angels. The cry
of Sedom and Amorah, because they oppress the poor,
and decree that whosoever giveth a morsel to the needy
shall be burned with fire, is therefore great, and their
guilt exceedingly weighty. I will now appear, and see
whether, as the cry of a damsel torn away, which
ascendeth before Me, they have made completion of
their sins ; (or, whether they have made an end of their
sins ;) and if they have wrought repentance, shall they
not be as (if ) innocent before Me ? and as if not know¬
ing, I will not punish. [Jerusalem. Now will I
appear and see, according as the cry of the people of
Sedom and Amorah hath ascended before Me, w hether
they have made a complete end. It may be, that some
among these sinners do not know that their works of
evil are manifest before Me. And if they seek to work
repentance, behold, they shall be considered before Me
as if those works had not been known.]
And the angels who had the likeness of men, turned
XVIII.] ON GENESIS. 213
thence and went towards Sedom. And Abraham now
supplicated mercy for Lot, and ministered in prayer
before the Lord. And Abraham prayed and said, Wilt
Thou destroy in Thy displeasure the innocent with the
guilty P Perhaps there are fifty innocent persons within
the city, who pray before Thee, — ten for every city, of
all the five cities of Sedom, Amorah, Admah, Zeboim,
and Zoar. Wilt Thou in Thy displeasure destroy and
not forgive the country, on account of the fifty innocent
ones who are in it? Unholy would it be before Thee to
do according to this word, to slay the innocent with
the guilty, and to make the innocent to be as the guilty !
That be unholy with Thee. It cannot be that One who
is the Judge of all the earth should not do justice.
And the Lord said, If I find in Sedom fifty innocent in
the midst of the city who pray before Me, I will forgive
all the land on their account. And Abraham responded,
and said, I pray for mercy. Behold, now, I have begun
to speak before the Lord ; I, who am as dust and
ashes. Perhaps of the fifty innocent persons, five may
be wanting. On account of the five who may be want¬
ing to Zoar, wilt Thou destroy the whole city ? And
He said, I will not destroy it, if I find there forty and
five. And he added yet to speak before Him, and said.
Perhaps there may be forty found there ; ten for each
city of the four cities, and Zoar, whose guilt is lighter,
forgive thou for Thy mercy's sake. And he said, I will
not make an end for the sake of the forty innocent ones.
And he said, Let not the displeasure of the Lord, the
Lord of all the world, wax strong against me, and I
will speak. Perhaps thirty who pray may be found there,
ten for each of the three cities, and Zeboim and Zoar
forgive them for Thy mercy's sake. And He said, I
will not make an end if I find thirty there. And he
said, Imploring mercy, I have now begun to speak
214 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
before the Lord, the Lord of all the world. Perhaps
twenty who pray may be found ; ten in each of the two
cities, and the three forgive Thou for Thy mercy's sake !
And He said, I will not destroy for the sake of the
twenty innocent. And he said, I implore mercy before
Thee ! Let not the anger of the Lord, the Lord of all
the world, grow strong, and I will speak only this time.
Perhaps ten may be found there ; and I and they will
pray for mercy upon all the land, and Thou wilt forgive
them. And He said, I will not destroy for the sake of
the ten who may be innocent. And the majesty of
the Lord went up when He had ceased to speak with
Abraham ; and Abraham returned to his place.
XIX. Two angels came to Sedom at the evening;
and Lot sat in the gate of Sedom. And Lot saw, and
rose up to meet them from the gate of the tabernacle.
And he bowed his face to the ground, and said, I beg
now, my lords, turn now hither, and enter the house of
your servant, and lodge, and wash your feet ; and you
will arise and proceed on your way. And they said to
him, No ; for in the street we will lodge. [Jerusalem.
And Lot sat in the gate of Sedom, and he saw them,
and ran and saluted them, and bowed with his face to
the ground . 2. And wash your feet, and wash you
in the morning, and go to your tents in peace. And
they said to him, No ; for in the open place of the city
we will lodge.] And he persuaded them earnestly, and
they turned aside to be with him ; and they entered his
house, and he made a repast for them, and prepared
unleavened cakes. And it seemed to him as if they did
eat. [Jerusalem. And it appeared as if they ate and
drank.]
They had not yet lain down, when the wicked men
of the city, the men of Sedom, came round upon the
house, from the youth to the old man, all the people
ON GENESIS.
215
XIX.]
throughout. And they cried to Lot, and said to him,
Where are the men who entered with thee to-night ?
Bring them out to us, and we will lie with them. And
Lot went out to them to the gate, and shut the door
after him. And he said, I pray, my brethren, do not
thus wickedly. Behold, now, I have two daughters
who have had no dealing with a man ; I would now
bring even them out to you to do to them as is meet
before you, rather than you should do evil to these
men, because they have entered in to lodge under the
shadow of my roof. [Jerusalem. 7. And Lot said to
them, Wait here a little, till we have besought mercy
before the Lord. 8. Who have not known dealing
with man.]
And they said, Give up this. And they said. Did
not this come alone to sojourn among us ? and, behold,
he is making himself a judge, and judging the whole
of us. But now we will do worse to thee than to them.
And they prevailed against the man, against Lot,
greatly, and came near, to shatter the door. And the
Men stretched forth their hands, and brought Lot unto
them in the house, and shut the door. But the men
who were at the gate of the house they struck with a
suffusion of the eyes, from the young to the old, and
they wearied themselves to find the gate. [Jerusalem.
With blindness.] And the Men said to Lot, Hast thou
yet in this city kinsman or brother ? Thy sons-in-law,
thy sons and thy daughters, take forth from the place ;
for the cry of it before the Lord is great, and the Lord
hath sent us to destroy it. And Lot went forth, and
spake with his sons-in-law who had taken his daughters,
and said. Arise, come forth from this place; for the
Lord destroyeth the city. But the word was as a wonder,
(and he) as a man ranting, in the eyes of his sons-in-
law. And at the time that the morning was about to
216 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
uprise, the angels were urgent upon Lot, saying, Up,
take thy wife and thy two daughters who are with you,
lest you perish in the condemnation of the inhabitants
of the city. But he delayed : and the men laid hold
on his hand, and on the hand of his wife, and on the
hand of his two daughters, for mercy from the Lord
was upon them. And they brought them forth, and
set them without the city. And it was that as they led
them without, one of them returned into Sedom, to
destroy it ; and one remained with Lot, and said to him,
Be merciful to your life ; look not behind you, and
stand not in all the plain ; to the mountain escape, or
you perish. And Lot said to him, I beseech of thee
endure with me a little hour, until I have prayed for
mercy from before the Lord. [Jerusalem. 15. And
it was at the time of the upcoming of the column of the
morning . 18. Be steadfast here a little with us until
I have besought mercy before the Lord.] Behold,
now, thy servant hath found mercy before Thee, and
Thou hast multiplied the kindness Thou hast done me
in saving my life, and I am not able to escape to the
mountain, lest evil overtake me, and I die. Behold,
now, I pray, this city, it is a near habitation, and con¬
venient (for us) to escape thither ; and it is small, and
the guilt thereof light. 1 will flee thither, then. Is it
not a little one ? and my life shall be preserved. And
He said. Behold, I have accepted thee in this matter
also, that I will not overthrow the city for which thou
hast spoken, to destroy it, that thou mayest escape to
it. Hasten and flee thither : for I cannot do any thing
till thou have entered there. Therefore he called the
name of the city Zoar.
The sun had passed the sea, and come forth upon the
earth, at the end of three hours, and Lot entered into
Zoar.
ON GENESIS.
217
XIX.]
And the Word of the Lord had caused showers of
favour to descend upon Sedom and Amorah, to the
intent that they might work repentance, but they did it
not : so that they said, Wickedness is not manifest
before the Lord. Behold, then, there are now sent
down upon them sulphur and fire from before the Word
of the Lord from heaven. [Jerusalem. 24. And the
Word of the Lord Himself had made to descend upon
the people of Sedom and Amorah showers of favour,
that they might work repentance from their wicked
works. But when they saw the showers of favour, they
said, So, our wicked works are not manifest before
Him. He turned (then), and caused to descend upon
them bitumen and fire from before the Lord from the
heavens.] And He overthrew those cities, and all the
plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and the
herbage of the earth.
And his wife looked after the angel, to know what
would be in the end of her father’s house, for she was
of the daughters of the Sedomaee; and because she
sinned by salt {bemilcha) she was manifestly punished ;
behold, she was made a statue of salt. [Jerusalem*
And because the wife of Lot was of the children of the
people of Sedom, she looked behind her, to see what
would be the end of her father's house : and, behold,
she was made to stand a statue of salt, until the time
of the resurrection shall come, when the dead shall
arise.]
And Abraham arose in the morning (and went) to
the place where he had ministered in prayer before the
Lord. And he looked towards Sedom and Amorah,
and all the land of the plain, and saw, and, behold, the
smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace.
And it was when the Lord destroyed the cities of
the plain, that He remembered the righteousness of
L
218
TARGUM OF PALESTINE
[CHAP.
Abraham, and sent forth Lot from the midst of the
overthrow, when He overthrew the cities wherein Lot
had dwelt.
And Lot went up from Zoar, and dwelt in the moun¬
tain, and his two daughters with him ; because he
feared to reside in Zoar. And he dwelt in a cavern, he
and his two daughters. And the elder said to the less,
Our father is old, and there is no man in the land to
come to us after the way of the whole earth : [Jeru¬
salem. And there is not a man in the land who may
come with us after the law of all the earth :] come,
let us make our father drink wine, and when he is
drunken we will lie with him, and raise up sons from
our father. And they made their father drink wine
that night, and he was drunk. And the elder arose,
and lay with her father, nor did he know when she lay
down, nor when she arose. And it was the day follow¬
ing, and the elder said to the less. Behold, now, I lay
my evening with the father ; let us make him drink
wine this night also, that he may be drunk ; and go
thou and lie with him, that we may raise up sons from
our father. And they made their father drink wine
that night also, and he was drunk, and the younger
arose, and lay with him; and he knew not in her lying
down nor in her rising up. And the two daughters of
Lot became with child by their father. And the elder
brought forth a son, and she called his name Moab,
because from her father she had conceived. He is the
father of the Moabaee unto this day. And the younger
also brought forth a son, and she called his name Bar-
Ammi, because he was the son of her father. He is the
father of the Ammonite people unto this day.
XX. And Abraham went on from thence to the land
of the south, and dwelt between Rekam and Chagra, and
had his habitation in Gerar. And Abraham said con-
ON GENESIS.
219
XX.]
cerniug Sarah his wife, She is my sister. And Abimelek,
king of Gerar, sent and took Sarah. [Jerusalem.
King of Arad.] And a word came from before the
Lord unto Abimelek, in a dream of the night, and said
to him. Behold, thou diest, because of the woman whom
thou hast carried away, and she a man's wife. But
Abimelek had not come nigh to defile her ; and he said,
Lord, shall the son of a people who hath not sinned,
and whom it is right to absolve in the judgment, be
killed ? Did he not tell me. She is my sister ? and did
not she also say. He is my brother ? In the truth¬
fulness of my heart and the innocency of my hands
have I done this. And the Word of the Lord said to
him in a dream, Before Me also it is manifest that in
the truthfulness of thy heart thou didst this, and so
restrained I thee from sinning before Me ; therefore I
would not permit thee to come near her. And now let
the wife of the man return ; for he is a prophet ; he
will pray for thee, and thou shalt live : but if thou wilt
not let her return, know that dying thou shalt die, thou
and all who are thine. And Abimelek arose in the
morning, and called all his servants, and told all these
words before them ; and the men feared greatly. And
Abimelek called Abraham, and said, What hast thou
done to us ? And in what have I sinned against thee ?
For thou hadst brought upon me and upon my kingdom
a great sin. Thou hast wrought with me works that
are not right. And Abimelek said to Abraham, What
hast thou seen, that thou didst this thing? And
Abraham said. Because I said in my heart. The fear of
the Lord is not in this place, and they will kill me
for the sake of my wife. But in truth she is my sister,
the daughter of my father's brother, but not of the
kindred of my mother ; and she became my wife. And
it was when they sought to turn me aside to the wor-
l 2
220 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP,
ship of idols, and I went forth from my father's house,
that I said to her, This is the kindness thou shalt do
me : in every place to which we come, say concerning
me, He is my brother. And Abimelek took sheep, and
oxen, and handmaids, and gave to Abraham, and re¬
stored Sarah his wife to him. And to Sarah he said,
Behold, I have given a thousand sileen9 of silver to thy
brother ; behold, they are . to thee a veil of the eyes,
inasmuch as thou vrast hidden from thine husband one
night, and I would have seen thee : for were I to give
all that I have it would not suffice (or be propor¬
tionate). And the words were debated. And Abra¬
ham knew that Abimelek had not come near Sarah his
wife. [Jerusalem.' And to Sarah he said, Behold, I
have given a thousand sileen 9 of silver to thy brother ;
behold, that silver is given to thee as a present, because
thou wast hidden from the eyes of Abraham thy hus¬
band one night : and of all that I have, — for on behalf
of all I am corrected, — behold, were I to give all what¬
ever I have, it would not suffice. Let the words be
approved, and may Abraham the Just learn that I have
not known thee.] And Abraham prayed before the
Lord : and the Lord healed Abimelek and his wife and
his concubines, and they were set at large. For the
Word of the Lord shutting had shut in displeasure
the wombs of all the women of Abimelek' s house on
account of Sarah the wife of Abraham. [Jerusalem.
Closing had closed.]
XXI. And the Lord remembered Sarah according to.
that which He had said to her ; and the Lord wrought
a miracle for Sarah like to that for which Abraham
had spoken in prayer for Abimelek. [Jerusalem. And
the Lord wrought miracles for Sarah, as He had spoken.]
And she conceived, and Sarah bare to Abraham a
9 Sileen, “ shekels.”
ON GENESIS.
221
XXI.]
son, who was like to himself in his age,10 at the time of
which the Lord had spoken to him. And Abraham
called the name of his son whom Sarah had borne him
Izhak. And Abraham circumcised Izhak his son, when
the son of eight days, as the Lord had commanded him.
And Abraham was the son of an hundred years when
Izhak his son was born to him. And Sarah said. The
Lord hath done wondrously for me ; all who hear will
wonder at me. And she said. How faithful was the
messenger who announced to Abraham, and said, Sarah
will nurse children, for she shall bring forth a son in
her old age ! [Jerusalem. And she said, What was
the announcement which announced to my lord Abraham
at the beginning, and said. It will be that she will give
suck, because she shall bring forth a son in her old
age?] And the child grew and was weaned. And
Abraham made a great feast on the day when Izhak
was weaned. And Sarah observed the son of Hagar
the Mizreitha, whom she bare to Abraham, mocking
with a strange worship, and bowing to the Lord.
[Jerusalem. And Sarah observed the son of Hagar the
Mizreitha, whom she bare to Abraham, doing evil
works which are not fitting to be done, mocking in a
strange worship.] And she said to Abraham, Cast out
this handmaid and her son : for it is not possible for the
son of this handmaid to inherit with my son; and he
to make war with Izhak. And the thing was very evil
in Abraham's eyes, on account of Ishmael his son, who
would practise a strange worship. And the Lord said to
Abraham, Let it not be evil in thine eyes on account of
the youth who goeth forth from thy nurturing, and of
10 Midrash: “When Sarah weaned her son, Abraham made a feast.
Then said the heathen. Behold this aged couple who have taken up a
child from the streets, to pretend that he is their son. But the Lord
made Izhak so greatly to resemble his father, that it could not be mis¬
taken whose son he was.”
222 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
thy handmaid whom thou sendest away. Hearken unto
all that Sarah saith to thee, because she is a prophetess ;
for in Izhak shall sons be called unto thee ; and this
son of the handmaid shall not be genealogized after
thee. But the son of the handmaid have I set for a
predatory people ( le-am leistim ), because he is thy
son. And Abraham rose up in the morning, and took
bread and a cruse of water, and gave to Hagar to
bear upon her shoulder, and bound it to her loins, to
signify that she was a servant, and the child, and dis¬
missed her with a letter of divorce ( be-gitta ). And
she went, and wandered from the way into the desert
which was hard by Beersheba. And it was when they
came to the entrance of the desert, they remembered to
wander after strange worship ; and Ishmael was seized
with a burning thirst, and drank of the water till all the
water was consumed from the cruse. And he was
dried up, and withered in his flesh ; and she carried
him, and was exhausted, and she cried unto the Bear of
his father, and He answered her not ; and she laid the
youth down at once under one of the trees. [Jerusa¬
lem. And the water was consumed from the cruse,
and she took up the youth.] And she went and sat on
one side, and cast away the idol (or the strange worship),
and removed from her son, as the distance of an arrow
from the bow ; for she said, I am not able to see the
death of the child. And she sat over against her son,
and lifted up her voice and wept. And the voice of the
youth was heard before the Lord for the righteousness*
sake of Abraham ; and the Angel of the Lord called to
Hagar from heaven, and said. What to thee, Hagar?
Paint not, for the voice of the youth is heard before
the Lord ; neither shall judgment be according to the
evil which he will do, but according to the righteous¬
ness of Abraham is mercy upon him in the place where
ON GENESIS.
223
XXI.]
he is. Arise, support the child, and strengthen thine
hand in him : for I have set him for a great people.
And the Lord opened her eyes, and showed her a well
of water, and she went and filled the cruse with water,
and gave the youth to drink. And the Word of the
Lord was the helper of the youth, and he grew and
dwelt in the wilderness, and became a skilful master of
the bow. And he dwelt in the wilderness of Pharan,
and took for a wife Adisha, but put her away. And
his mother took for him Phatima to wife, from the
land of Mizraim.
And it was at that time that Abimelek and Phikol,
chief of his host, spake to Abraham, saying, The Word
of the Lord is in thine aid in all whatsoever thou
doest. And now, swear to me here, by the Word of
the Lord, that thou wilt not be false with me, nor with
my son, nor with the son of my son : according to the
kindness which I have done with thee, thou shalt do
with me, and with the land in which thou dwellest.
And Abraham said to him, I swear. And Abraham
remonstrated with Abimelek concerning the well of
water of which the servants of Abimelek had deprived
him. And Abimelek said, I knew not who did this
thing ; neither hast thou shown it to me ; nor
have I heard it from others, till to-day from thyself.
And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave to
Abimelek ; and they both made a covenant. And
Abraham set seven lambs apart and separated them
from the oxen. And Abimelek said to Abraham, What
are these seven lambs which thou hast set apart ? And
he said, That thou mayest take the seven lambs from
my hand, to be a testimony for me that I have digged
this well. Therefore he called that well the Well of
the Seven Lambs ; because there they two did swear.
And they struck a covenant at the Well of the Seven
224 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
Lambs. And Abimelek and Phikol the chief of his
host arose and returned to the land of the Philistaee.
And he planted a garden, (lit., “ a paradise,”) at the Well
of the Seven Lambs, and prepared in the midst of it
food and drink for them who passed by and who
returned ; and he preached to them there, Confess ye,
and believe in the Name of the Word of the Lord, the
everlasting God.
[Jerusalem. And Abraham planted a paradise in
Beer Sheba, and prepared in the midst of it food and
drink for those who arrived at the border ; and they
ate and drank, and sought to give him the price of
what they had eaten and drunk, but he willed not to
receive it from them ; but our father Abraham dis¬
coursed to them of that which he had said, that the
world was by His word. Pray before your Father
who is in heaven, from whose bounty ye have eaten and
drunk. And they stirred not from their place until the
time when he had made them proselytes, and had taught
them the way everlasting. And Abraham praised and
prayed there in the name of the word of the Lord, the
God of Eternity.]
XXII. And it was after these things that Izhak
and Ishmael contended ; and Ishmael said. It is right
that I should inherit what is the father's, because I
am his firstborn son. And Izhak said, It is right that
I should inherit what is the father's, because I am the
son of Sarah his wife, and thou art the son of Hagar
the handmaid of my mother. Ishmael answered and
said, I am more righteous than thou, because I was
circumcised at thirteen years ; and if it had been my
will to hinder, they should not have delivered me to be
circumcised ; but thou wast circumcised a child of
eight days ; if thou hadst had knowledge, perhaps they
could not have delivered thee to be circumcised. Izhak
ON GENESIS.
225
XXII .]
responded and said. Behold now, to-day I am thirty and
six years old ; and if the Holy One, blessed be He, were
to require all my members, I would not delay. These
words were heard before the Lord of the world, and
the Word of the Lord at once tried Abraham, and said
to him, Abraham! And he said. Behold me. [Jeru¬
salem. And it was after these things that the Lord
tried Abraham with the tenth trial, and said to him,
Abraham ! And he said, Behold me.] And He said,
Take now thy son, thy only one whom thou lovest,
Izhak, and go into the land of worship, and offer
him there, a whole burnt offering, upon one of the
mountains that I will tell thee. [Jerusalem. At
Mount Moriah.] And Abraham rose up in the morning
and saddled his ass, and took two young men with
him, Eliezer and Ishmael, and Izhak his son, and cut
the small wood and the figs and the palm, which are
provided for the whole burnt offering, and arose and
went to the land of which the Lord had told him.
On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and
beheld the cloud of glory fuming on the Mount, and
it was discerned by him afar off. And Abraham said
to his young men, Wait you here with the ass, and I
and the young man will proceed yonder, to prove if
that which was promised shall be established : — So shall
be thy sons : — and we will worship the Lord of the
world, and return to you. And Abraham took the
wood of the offering and laid it upon Izhak his son,
and in his hand he took the fire and the knife ; and
they went both of them together.
And Izhak spake to Abraham his father, and said.
My Father ! And he said, I am. And he said,
Behold the fire and the wood : where is the lamb for the
offering ? And Abraham said, The Lord will choose
for Himself a lamb for the offering. And they went
L 5
226
TARGTJM OF PALESTINE
[chap.
both of them in heart entirely as one. [Jerusalem.
And Abraham said, The Word of the Lord will prepare
for me a lamb ; and if not, then thou art the offering,
my son ! And they went both of them together with a
contrite heart.] 1
And they came to the place of which the Lord had
told him. And Abraham builded there the altar which
Adam had built, which had been destroyed by the
waters of the deluge, which Noah had again builded,
and which had been destroyed in the age of divisions ;3
and he set the wood in order upon it, and bound Izhak
his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
And Abraham stretched out his hand, and took the knife
to slay his sou.
And Izhak answered and said to his father. Bind me
properly (aright), lest I tremble from the affliction of
my soul, and be cast into the pit of destruction, and
there be found profaneness in thy offering. (Now) the
eyes of Abraham looked on the eyes of Izhak ; but the
eyes of Izhak looked towards the angels on high, (and)
1 Midrash : ** While Sarah was yet sleeping, Abraham left in the
early morning. Satana stood in his way as an aged man, and said : —
S. Whither goest thou ? — A. To pray. — S. But why with wood and
knife? — A. I must needs prepare food. — S. Should a man like you kill
his son who was given him in old age ? — A. God has commanded.
** To Izhak the Tempter took the appearance of a young man, and
accosted Izhak : — S. Whither goest thou ? — I. To be instructed by my
father in righteousness and truth. — S. In this life, or in the next ? For
he designs to kill thee. — I. It matters not : I follow him.
“ Satana then appeared to Sarah : — Where, asked he, is thy husband ?
— Sar. He has gone upon his affairs. — Sat. And thy son? — Sar. With
him. — Sat. Didst thou not once resolve that he should not leave the
house alone ? — Sar. He prays with his father. — Sat. And thou wilt never
see him again. — Sar. The Lord do unto my son according to His wiU.”]
* “ The altar on which Abraham would have offered his son Izhak is
the same that Noah had raised when he came forth from the ark ; on
which Kain had offered, and where Adam himself, repenting of his fall,
had offered, and was made better.” — Yalkut, i., 104.
ON GENESIS.
22T
XXII.]
Izhak beheld them, but Abraham saw them not. And
the angels answered on high, Come, behold how these
solitary ones who are in the world kill the one the other ;
he who slayeth delays not ; he who is to be slain
reacheth forth his neck.
[Jerusalem. And Abraham stretched out his hand,
and took the knife to slay Izhak his son. Izhak
answered and said to Abraham his father. My father,
bind my hands rightly, lest in the hour of my affliction
I tremble and confuse thee, and thy offering be found
profane, and I be cast into the pit of destruction in the
world to come. (Now) the eyes of Abraham reached
unto the eyes of Izhak ; but the eyes of Izhak reached
to the angels on high. And Izhak beheld them ; but
Abraham saw them not. In that hour came forth the
angels on high, and said, these to these, Come, behold
two righteous ones alone in the midst of the world : the
one slayeth, the other is slain. He who slayeth
deferreth not, and he who is to be slain stretcheth out
his neck.]
And the Angel of the Lord called to him from the
heavens, and said to him, Abraham ! Abraham ! And
he said. Behold me. [Jerusalem. And He said,
Abraham ! Abraham ! And Abraham answered in the
language of the sanctuary, and said, Behold me.] And
He said, Stretch not out thy hand upon the young man,
neither do him any evil ; for now it is manifest before
Me that thou fearcst the Lord ; neither hast thou with¬
held thy son thy only begotten from Me.
And Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw, and, behold,
a certain ram which had been created between the
evenings of the foundation of the world, was held in the
entanglement of a tree by his horns. And Abraham
went and took him, and offered him an offering instead
of his son. And Abraham gave thanks and prayed
228 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
there, in that place, and said, I pray through the mercies
that are before Thee, O Lord, before whom it is manifest
that it was not in the depth of my heart to turn away
from doing Thy decree with joy, that when the children
of Izhak my son shall offer in the hour of affliction,
this may be a memorial for them ; and Thou mayest
hear them and deliver them, and that all generations
to come may say, In this mountain Abraham bound
Izhak his son, and there the Shekina of the Lord was
revealed unto him.
[Jerusalem. And Abraham prayed in the name of
the Word of the Lord, and said, Thou art the Lord who
seest, and art not seen. I pray for mercy before Thee,
O Lord. It is wholly manifest and known before Thee
that in my heart there was no dividing, in the time that
Thou didst command me to offer Izhak my son, and to
make him dust and ashes before Thee ; but that forth¬
with I arose in the morning and performed Thy word
with joy, and I have fulfilled Thy word. And now I
pray for mercies before Thee, O Lord God, that when
the children of Izhak offer in the hour of need, the
binding of Izhak their father Thou mayest remember
on their behalf, and remit and forgive their sins, and
deliver them out of all need. That the generations who
are to arise after him may say, In the mountain of the
house of the sanctuary of the Lord did Abraham offer
Izhak his son, and in this mountain of the house of
the sanctuary was revealed unto him the glory of the
Shekinah of the Lord.]
And the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham the
second time from the heavens, and said, By My Word
have I sworn, saith the Lord, forasmuch as thou hast
done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thy
only begotten, that in blessing I will bless thee, and in
multiplying I will multiply thy sons as the stars of the
ON GENESIS.
229
XXII.]
heavens, and they shall be as the sand which is upon
the shore of the sea, and thy sons shall inherit the cities
before their enemies. And all the peoples of the earth
shall be blessed through the righteousness of thy son,
because thou hast obeyed My word.
And the angels on high took Izhak and brought him
into the school ( medresha ) of Shem the Great ; and he
was there three years. And in the same day Abraham
returned to his young men ; and they arose and went
together to the Well of the Seven, and Abraham dwelt
at Beira-desheva.
And it was after these things, after Abraham had
bound Izhak, that Satana came and told unto Sarah
that Abraham had killed Izhak. And Sarah arose, and
cried out, and was strangled, and died from agony.
But Abraham had come, and was resting in the way.
And it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcha also
hath borne ; she hath enlargement, through the righteous¬
ness of her sister, to bring forth sons unto Nachor thy
brother : Uts, his firstborn, and Booz, his brother, and
Kemuel, master of the Aramean magicians, and Keshed,
and Chazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel.
And Bethuel begat Bivekeh. These eight bare Milcha
to Nachor the brother of Abraham. And his concubine,
whose name was Beuma, she also bare Tebach, and
Gacham, and Tachash, and Maacha. [Jerusalem.
And his concubine... and her name...]
230
TARGUM OF PALESTINE
[chap.
SECTION V.
CHAIYEY SARAH.
XXIII. And the days of the life of Sarah were an
hundred and twenty and seven years, the years of the
life of Sarah. And Sarah died in Kiryath Arba, which
is Hebron. [Jerusalem. And Sarah died in the city
of the giants.]
And Abraham came from the mountain of worship,
and found that she was dead ; and he sat to mourn for
Sarah, and to weep for her. And Abraham rose up
from the sight of the face of his dead, and spake with
the sons of Hittah, saying, I am a sojourner and
dweller with you ; I pray sell me the inheritance of a
sepulchre among you, and I will bury my dead there.
And the sons of Hittah responded unto Abraham, saying
to him, Attend to us, our lord. Great before the Lord
art thou among us, in the best of our sepulchres bury
thy dead : there is not a man of us who will refuse thee
his sepulchre, that thou mayest bury thy dead. And
Abraham rose and bowed to the people of the land, the
sons of Hittah. And he spake with them, saying, If it
be with the consent of your mind that I bury my dead
from before my face, receive of me, and intercede for
me before Ephron bar Zochar that he sell me his double
cave which is built in the side of his field, for the full
price in silver let him give it me among you, for an
inheritance of sepulture. But Ephron the Hittite
answered Abraham in the presence of the sons of
Hittah, of all who entered the gate of his city, saying.
My lord, listen to me : the field I give thee, and the
cave which is in it, to thee I give it, as a gift before the
sous of my people I give it to thee ; go, bury thy dead.
ON GENESIS.
231
XXIY .]
And Abraham bowed before the sons of Hittah. And
he spake with Ephron before the people of the land,
saying, Nevertheless, if thou art willing to do me a
favour, hear me : I will give thee in silver the price
of the field ; take (it) of me, and I will bury my dead
there. And Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him.
My lord, hear me : the land, as to its price, would be
four hundred sileen of silver ; between me and thee
what is that ? Bury thy dead. And Abraham
hearkened unto Ephron, and Abraham weighed to
Ephron the silver which he had named before the sons
of Hittah, four hundred sileen of silver, good, passing
at every table, and receivable in all transactions.
[Jerusalem. Eour hundred sileen of silver, passing at
every table, and receivable in all transactions.] And
he confirmed the purchase of the field of Ephron, in
which (was) the double (cave) which is before Mamre,
The field, and the cave that is therein, and all the trees
that were in the field, in all the boundaries thereof
round about, — Unto Abraham, for a purchased posses¬
sion, in the presence of the sons of Hittah, (even) of all
who entered in at the gate of the city. And afterwards
Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field
Kapheilta 3 which is before Mamre, that is, Hebron in
the land of Kenaan. And the field and the cave therein
were confirmed unto Abraham for an inheritance of
sepulture from the sons of Hittah.
XXIY. And Abraham was old with days, and the
Word of the Lord had blessed Abraham with every
kind of blessing. And Abraham said to Eliezer his
servant, the senior of his house, who had rule over all
his property, Put now thy hand upon the section of my
circumcision. [Jerusalem. And Abraham said to his
servant, the ruler who had rule over all that was his,
3 “ The Double.”
232 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
Put now thy hand under the thigh of my covenant.]
And swear to me in the name of the Word of the Lori
God, whose habitation is in heaven on high, the Gocl
whose dominion is over the earth, that thou wilt not!
take a wife for my son from the daughters of the!
Kenaanites among whom I dwell ; but that thou will
go to the land and the house of my kindred, and take a
wife for my son, for Izhak. And the domestic said to
him, Perhaps the woman may not be willing to come1
after me to this land ; shall I, returning, make thy son
return to the land from whence thou earnest? And
Abraham said to him, Beware, lest thou make my son
return thither ! The Lord God, whose seat is in heaven
on high, who took me from my father's house, and from
the land of my birth ; and who spake to me, and sware
to me, saying, To thy son will I give this land ; He
will seasonably send His angel, and thou shalt take a
wife for my son from thence. But if the woman be not
willing to come after thee, thou shalt be innocent from
this my oath ; only make not my son return thither.
And the servant put his hand upon the circumcised "
part of Abraham his lord, and sware to him according
to this thing.
And the servant took ten camels from the camels of
his lord, and went : for all the goodly treasures of his
lord were in his hand ; and he arose and went unto
Aram, which was by the Pherat, to the city of Nachor.
[Jerusalem. And all the goodly treasures of his lord
were in his hand ; and he arose and went to Aram,
which is by Pherat Naharaim.] And he made the
camels lie down without the city by the fountain of
waters, at the time of evening, the time when the
fillers (of water) come forth. And he said, Lord God
of my master Abraham, prepare thou a proper woman
before me to-day, and deal graciously with mv master
XXIV.] ON GENESIS. 233
Abraham. Behold, I stand at the well of waters, and
the daughters of the men of the city are coming forth
to fill waters. Let the damsel to whom I say, Beach me
now thy pitcher, that I may drink, and she say. Drink,
and I will also make my camels drink, be she whom
thou hast provided to go to thy servant Izhak; and
herein shall I know that Thou hast dealt graciously with
my master. And it was in that little hour, while he
had not ceased to speak, that, behold, Bivekah came
forth, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcha, the wife
of Nachor, the brother of Abraham, and her pitcher
was upon her shoulder. And the damsel was a virgin,
very beautiful to behold, and she descended to the
fountain and filled her pitcher, and came up. And the
servant ran to meet her, and said. Let me taste now a
little water from thy pitcher. And she said, Drink, my
lord ; and hastened to let down her pitcher upon her
hand, and gave him drink. And she finished giving
him drink, and said, Also for thy camels I will fill until
they be satisfied with drinking. And she hastened and
emptied the pitcher into the canal, the place of drink¬
ing, and ran again*to the well to fill ; and she filled for
all his camels. [Jerusalem. And she made haste, and
poured out her vase into the midst of the trough, and
filled, and gave drink to all the camels.] But the man
waited, and was silent, to know whether the Lord had
prospered his way or not. And it was when the camels
had been satisfied with drink, that the man took an
earring of gold,4 of a drachma in weight, the counter¬
part of the drachma of the head (money) which her
children presented for the work of the sanctuary ; and
he set two golden bracelets upon her hands, in weight
ten sileen of gold ; the sum of their weight being the
counterpart of the two tables on which were inscribed
the Ten Words. And he said, Whose daughter art
4 Kadasha, “ ornament, amulet.”
234
TAUGUM OP PALESTINE
CHAP.
thou ? Tell me now, if in thy father's house there be
room for us to lodge. And she said, I am the daughter
of Bethuel the son of Milcha, whom she bare to Nachor.
And she told him, saying. There is also straw and pro-
vender in plenty with us, as also proper room to lodge.;
And the man bowed and worshipped before the Lord,
who had thus prepared before him a suitable wife.
And he said. Blessed be the Name of the Lord, the
God of my master Abraham, who hath not restrained
His mercy and His truth from my master; for the sake
of his righteousness in the right way hath the Lord led
me to the house of my master's brother.6
And Bivekah had a brother whose name was Laban.
And Laban ran towards the man without at the foun¬
tain. And when Laban saw the ring and the bracelets
upon the hands of his sister, and heard the words of
Rivekah his sister, saying, Thus hath the man spoken
with me ; he came to the man, and, behold, he stood by
the camels at the fountain. And Laban thought that
this was Abraham, and said, Come in, thou blessed of
the Lord : wherefore standest thou without, when I have
purified the house from strange worship, and have pre¬
pared a place for the camels ?
And the man entered the house, and Laban undid the
gear of the camels, and gave the camels straw and pro-
vender ; and water (to Eliezer) to wash his feet, and the
feet of the men who were with him. And he set in
order before him to eat, prepared food in which was
poison 6 to kill ; but he objected to it, and said, I will
not eat, until 1 have spoken my words. And he said.
Speak. And lie said, I am the servant of Abraham.
And the Lord hath blessed my master greatly, and hath
5 The twenty-eighth verse is wanting in this Targum.
* Sama , “arsenic.” “ Weisse Erde a us der Insel Samos” —
Dessaueb. "What foundation is there for this wretched calumny ?
ON GENESIS.
235
XXIV.]
increased, and given him sheep and oxen, silver and
gold, servants and handmaids, and camels and asses.
And Sarah, my master's wife, bare a son after she was
old, and he hath given to him all that he hath. And
my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take
a wife for my son from the daughters of the Kenaanites
in whose land I dwell, but shall go to my kindred, and
take a wife for my son. But I said to my master, Per¬
haps the woman will not come after me. And he said
to me, The Lord before whom I worship will appoint
His angel to be with thee, and will prosper thy way ; and
thou shalt take a wife for my son from my household,
from the race of my father's house. Then shalt thou be
free from my oath : if, when thou art come to the house
of my kindred, they give not to thee, thou shalt be free
from thy oath.
And I came to-day to the fountain, and said. Lord
God of my master Abraham, if now Thou hast pros¬
pered the journey upon which I have come, behold, I
stand at the fountain of water, — let the damsel who may
come forth to fill, to whom I will say, Give me now a
little water to drink from thy pitcher, and she say.
Drink, and for thy camels also will I draw, be the wife
whom the Lord hath prepared by His decree7 for my
master's son.
I had not yet finished speaking in the thoughts of
my heart, when, behold, Rivekah came forth with the
pitcher upon (her) shoulder, and went down to the
fountain, and filled. And I said. Let me now drink.
And she hastened ,and let down her pitcher from her,
and said, Drink, and I will also give thy camels drink.
And I asked her, and said. Whose daughter art thou ?
And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, the son of
7 Be-mazla. Mazal, “a planet, propitious star, influence of the
stars, destiny,” &c.
236 TATtGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.J
Nachor, whom Milcha bare to him. And I set the
jewel upon her brow, and the bracelets on her hand, and
bowed and worshipped before the Lord ; and I blessed
the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led
me in the true way to take the daughter of my master’s
brother for his son.
And now, if you. will deal kindly and truly with my
master, tell me ; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to
the south or to the north. And Laban and Bethuel
answered and said, The thing hath come forth from
before the Lord that Rivekah should be given to Izhak,
and we cannot say to thee either evil or good. Behold,
Rivekah is before thee, take and go, and let her be the
wife of thy master’s son, as the Lord hath spoken.
And when Abraham’s servant heard these words, he
worshipped on the ground before the Lord. And the
servant brought forth vessels of silver and of gold, and
vestments, and gave them to Rivekah; and present#
gave he to her brother and to her mother. And they
ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and
passed the night. And he arose in the morning, and
said, Send me away to my master. But as they were
talking in the evening, Bethuel had eaten of that pre¬
pared food ; and in the morning they found that he was
dead. And the brother and mother said therefore, Let
the damsel dwell with us the days of one year or ten
months, and then she shall go. And he said, Hinder
me not, when the Lord hath prospered my way ; let
me depart, and I will go to my master. And they
said, We will call Rivekah, and hear what she says.
And they called Rivekah, and said to her, Wilt thou
go with this man ? Aud she said, I will go.
And they let Rivekah their sister go, and her nurse,
and the servant of Abraham, and his men. And they
blessed Rivekah, and said to her. Hitherto thou wast
ON GENESIS.
237
XXIV.]
our sister ; and now thou art going and art wedded to
the righteous ; so prosper thou, that from thee may
come thousands of myriads ; and may thy sons inherit
the cities of those who hate them.
And Bivekah arose, and her damsel, and they rode
upon camels, and went after the man. And the ser¬
vant took Bivekah with him and journeyed. And as
the way was shortened to him in his journey to Padan
Aram, so was it shortened to him in his return, that in
one day he went, and in one day he returned.
And Izliak was coming from the school of the Babba
Shem,8 by the way of the fountain where had been
revealed to " him the Living and Eternal One, who
seeth, and is not seen ; and he resided in the land of
the south. [Jerusalem. And Izhak was coming
from the school of the Babba Shem, at the fountain
where had been revealed to him the Shekinah of the
Lord ; and he dwelt in the land of the south.] And
Izhak went forth to pray upon the face of the field at
:he time of evening ; and he lifted up his eyes, and
saw, and, behold, the camels were approaching.
And Bivekah lifted up her eyes, and saw Izhak, and
she bowed upon the camel. And she said to the ser¬
vant, Who is the man (so) majestic and graceful, who
walks in the field before us ? And the servant said,
He is my master. And she took a veil and covered
berself. [Jerusalem. And she took a veil, and
wrapped herself in it.]
And the servant related to Izhak everything he had
lone. And Izhak introduced her into the tabernacle of
Sarah his mother, and thereupon the light (again) shined
which had gone out at the time of Sarah's death.
rVnd he took Bivekah, and she was his wife, and he
oved her ; for he saw her works that they were upright
9 Beth medresha de Shem rabba.
238 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP*
as the works of his mother. And Izhak was consoled
after his mother's death.
XXY. And Abraham added and took a wife, and her
name was Keturah; she is Hagar, who had been bound9
to him from the beginning. [Jerusalem. She is
Hagar, who had been tied to him from the beginning.]
And she bare to him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan,
and Midyan, and Yishbak, and Shovack. And Jokshan
begat Sheva and Dedan ; and the sons of Dedan were
merchants, and negotiators, and chiefs of peoples,
[Jerusalem. Merchants, and artificers, and chiefs of
peoples.] And the sons of Midyan, Eipher, and
Epher, and Hanok, and Abida, and Aldaah, all these
were the sons of Keturah. And Abraham gave the
gift of all he had to Izhak. And to the sons of the
concubines of Abraham gave Abraham riches and move-
able property as gifts, and sent them away from Izhak
his son while he (yet) lived ; and they went and dwelt
eastward in the land of the orient.
And this is the number of the days of the life of
Abraham, who lived a hundred and seventy and five
years. And Abraham expired, and died in a good old
age, aged and satisfied with all good. (Also Ishmael
wrought repentance in his days, and afterwards was
gathered to his people.) And Izhak and Ishmael his
sons buried him in the double cavern, at the field of
Ephran bar Zochar, the Hittite, which is before Mamre ;
the field that Abraham purchased of the sons of Hittah :
there was Abraham buried and Sarah his wife.
And because Abraham had not designed to bless
Ishmael, therefore he blessed not Izhak ; for had he
blessed Izhak and not Ishmael, it would have kept
them in enmity. But, after the death of Abraham, the
Lord blessed Izhak ; and Izhak dwelt near the well
• Keturah , “ tlie bound one,” from keter, “ to bind.”
XXV.] ON GENESIS. 239
at which was revealed the glory of the Living and
Eternal One, who seeth and is not seen.
And these are the generations of Ishmael bar Abra¬
ham, whom Hagar the Mizreitha, the handmaid of
Sarah, bare unto Abraham. And these are the names
of the sons of Ishmael by their names, according to
their generations. The firstborn of Ishmael, Neboi,
and Arab, and Abdeel, and Mibsham, — Hearing, Silence,
Patience, and Sharpness : and Tema, Yetur, Naphish,
and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael, and
these their names in their villages, and in their fenced
dwellings, twelve chiefs of their peoples. And these are
the years of the life of Ishmael, a hundred and thirty
and seven years ; and he was converted in repentance,
and expired, and was gathered to his people. And
they dwelt from Hindiki unto Chalutsa, which is in
face of Mizraim from going up to Athur. Before the
face of all his brethren he dwelt in his possession.
[Jerusalem. In their villages, and in their fenced
dwellings (or encampments). Twelve chiefs of their
peoples. And they dwelt from Hindekaia unto
Chalutsa, which is by the side of Mizraim, from thy
going up towards Athur. Before all his brethren he
dwelt.]
SECTION VI.
TOLEDOTH.
These are the generations of Izhak bar Abraham.
And because the appearance of Izhak resembled the
appearance of Abraham, the sons of men said, In truth
Abraham begat Izhak. And Izhak was the son of
240 TARGUM OP PALESTINE [CHAP.
forty years when he took Rivekah, the daughter of
Bethuel the Aramite, who was of Padan Aram, the sister
of Laban the Aramite, unto him for a wife. And Izhak
went to the mountain of worship, the place where his
father had bound him. And Izhak in his prayer turned
the attention of the Holy One, blessed be He ! from
that which He had decreed respecting his wife, because
she had been barren twenty and two years ; and changed
also was the intention of the Holy One, blessed be He !
from that which He had decreed concerning him who
had been childless. And he was enlarged, and Rivekah
his wife was with child. And the children pressed in
her womb as men doing battle. And she said, If this
is the anguish of a mother, what then are children to
me ? And she went into the school of Shem Rabba to
supplicate mercy before the Lord. [Jerusalem. And
the children pressed in her womb, and she said, If such
be the anguish of a mother, what now is life, that
children are to be mine? And she went to supplicate
mercy before the Lord in the beth midrash of Shem
Rabba.] And the Lord said to her, Two peoples are
in thy womb, and two kingdoms from thy womb shall
be separated ; and one kingdom shall be stronger than
the other, and the elder shall serve the younger, if the
children of the younger will keep the commandments of
the Law. J
And the two hundred and seventy days of her being
with child were completed to bring forth ; and, behold,
twins were in her womb. And the first came forth
wholly red, as a garment of hair : and they called his
name Esau,1 because he was born altogether complete,
with the hair of the head, and the beard, and teeth, and
grinders. [Jerusalem. And the first came forth
wholly red, as a garment of hair : and they called his
1 "Ready made,” or, according to others, "rough, hairy.”
ON GENESIS.
241
XXV.]
name Esau.] Afterward came forth his brother, and
his hand had hold on the heel of Esau. And they
called his name Jakob ( YaaJcov ).8 And Izhak was a
son of sixty years when he begat them.
And the lads grew ; and Esau was a man of idleness8
to catch birds and beasts, a man going forth into the
field to kill lives, as Nimrod had killed, and Hanok his
son. But Jakob was a man peaceful in his works, a
minister of the instruction-house of Eber, seeking
instruction before the Lord. And Izhak loved Esau,
for words of deceit were in his mouth ; but Bivekah
loved Jakob.
On the day that Abraham died, Jakob dressed pot¬
tage of lentiles, and was going to comfort his father.
And Esau came from the wilderness, exhausted ; for in
that day he had committed five transgressions : he had
worshipped with strange worship, he had shed innocent
blood, he had gone in unto a betrothed damsel, he had
denied the life of the world to come, and had despised
the birthright. And Esau said to Jakob, Let me now
taste that red pottage, for I am faint, — therefore he
called his name Edom.4 And Jakob said, Sell to-day,
as (on this very) day, what thou wouldst hereafter
appropriate, thy birthright, unto me. And Esau
said, Behold, I am going to die, and in another world
I shall have no life; and what then to me is the birth¬
right, or the portion in the world of which thou
speakest ? And Jakob said, Swear to me to-day that
I so it shall be. And he sware to him, and sold his
! birthright to Jakob. And Jakob gave to Esau bread
jaud pottage of lentiles. And he ate and drank, and
arose and went. And Esau scorned the birthright, and
the portion of the world that cometh. [Jerusalem.
* From agav , “ to hold by the heel, to trip up, to act deceitfully.”
3 Or, “leisure” 4 “ Red.”
242 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP. 1
And he arose, and went. And Esau despised the 1
birthright, and yilified the portion in the world that |
cometh, and denied the resurrection of the dead.]
XXYI. And there was a mighty famine in the land 1
of Kenaan, besides the former famine which had been 1
in the days of Abraham ; and Izhak went to Abimelek 1
king of the Philistaee at Gerar. It had been in
Izhak* s heart to go dowTn to Mizraim ; but the Lord
appeared to him, and said, Go not down to Mizraim ; 1
dwell in the land as I have told thee ; sojourn in the |
land, and My Word shall be for thy help, and I will
bless thee ; for to the end to thy sons will I give all j
these lands, and I will establish the covenant which I |
have covenanted with Abraham thy father. And I
will multiply thy sons as the stars of the heavens, and
will give to thy sons all these lands, and through thy
sons shall all the nations of the earth be blessed ; on
account that Abraham obeyed My word, and kept the ^
keeping of My wmrd, My statutes, My covenants, and
My lawrs. And Izhak dwelt in Gerar. And the men
of the place inquired concerning his wife ; and he said, ,
She is my sister : for he reasoned in his heart, Lest the ,
men of the place should kill me for Rivekah, because ■
she was of beautiful appearance. And it was when j
days had increased to him in abiding there, that Abime¬
lek the king of the Philistaee looked from a window, 1
and beheld, and Izhak was disporting with Rivekah his
wife. [Jerusalem. And he looked.] And Abimelek
called Izhak, and said. Nevertheless she is thy wife;
and wliy hast thou said, She is my sister ? And Izhak
answered him, Because I said in my heart. Lest they
kill me on her account. And Abimelek said, Why hast
thou done this to us ? It might have been that the
king, w ho is the principal 5 of the people, had lain with
5 Or, “the individual ( myechad ), the personal representative.” i
XXVI.] ON GENESIS. 243
thy wife, and thou wouldst have brought guilt upon us.
[Jerusalem. And Abimelek said to him, What is this
that thou hast done to us ? Yery possibly might one
of the young men have lain with thy wife, and there
would have been great guilt brought upon us.]
And Abimelek instructed all the people. Whoever
shall go near to injure this man or his wife, shall verily
be put to death. And Izhak sowed unto righteousness
in that land, and found in that year a hundred for one,
according to his measure. And the Lord blessed him,
and the man increased, and went forward increasing
until he was very great. And he had flocks of sheep,
and herds of cattle, and great cultivation; and the
Philistaee envied him. And all the wells which the
servants of his father had digged in the days of Abra¬
ham his father, the Philistaee stopped up and filled with
earth.
And Abimelek said to Izhak, Go from us ; for thou
art stronger than we in riches very much. And Izhak
went thence, and sojourned in the vale of Gerar, and
dwelt there. And Izhak digged again the wrells of
water which the servants of his father had digged in
the days of Abraham his father, and which the Philis¬
taee had stopped after Abraham was dead ; and he called
them by the names his father had called them. And
the servants of Izhak digged in the border of the vale,
and found there a well of flowing water. And the
shepherds of Gerar contended with Izhak's shepherds,
saying, The water is ours. And it was the will of
Heaven, and it dried. But when they returned to
Izhak, it flowed. And he called the name of the well
(. Esek ) Contention, because (etheseJcu) they had quar¬
relled with him on account of it. And they digged
another well ; and they contended for it also ; and it
dried, and did not flow again. And he called the
m 2
244 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
name of it ( Sitnah ) Accusation. And he removed
from thence and digged another well, and for that they
did not contend as formerly, and he called the name
of it ( Ravchatha ) Spaciousness; for he said, Now hath
the Lord given us space to spread us abroad in the
land. And he went up from thence unto Beersheba.
And the Lord appeared to him that night, and said,
I am the God of Abraham thy father : fear not ; for My
Word is for thy help, and I will bless thee, and multiply
thy sons for the righteousness* sake of Abraham My
servant. And he builded there an altar, and prayed
in the name of the Lord. And he spread his tabernacle
there, and the servants of Izhak digged there a well.
And when Izhak went forth from Gerar the wells dried
up, and the trees made no fruit ; and they felt that it
was because they had driven him away, all these things
had befallen them. And Abimelek went to him from
Gerar, and took his friends to go with him, and Phikol
the chief of his host. And Izhak said to them. Why
come you to me that I should pray for you, when you
have hated me, and driven me from you ? And they
answered. Seeing, we have seen, that the Word of the
Lord is for thy help, and for thy righteousness* sake all
good hath been to us ; but when thou wentest forth
from our land the wells dried up, and our trees made
no fruit ; then we said, We will* cause him to return to
us. And now let there be an oath established between
us, and kindnesses between us and thee, and we will
enter into a covenant with thee, lest thou do us evil.
Forasmuch as we have not come nigh thee for evil, and
as we have acted with thee only for good, and have
indeed sent thee away in peace; thou art now blessed
of the Lord. And they arose in the morning, each man
with his brother ; and he broke off from the bridle of
his ass, and gave one part to them for a testimony.
XXVII.] ON GENESIS. 245
And Izhak prayed for them, and they were enlarged.
And Izhak accompanied them, and they went from him
in peace.
And on that day the servants of Izhak came and told
him concerning the well they had digged, and said to
him, We have found water ; and he called it Sheba
(the Swearing) ; therefore the name of the city is
Beersheba unto this day.
And Esau was the son of forty years ; and he took
to wife Yehudith daughter of Beari the Hittah, and
Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittah. And they
bowed in strange worship, and set themselves to rebel
in their evil conduct against Izhak and against Rivekah .
[Jerusalem. And they were refractory, swelling in
spirit with strange worship, and would not receive
instruction either from Izhak or Rivekah.]
XXYII. And it was when Izhak was old and his
eyes were darkened from seeing, — because when his
father was binding him he had seen the Throne of
Glory, and from that time his eyes had begun to
darken, — that he called Esau his elder son, on the
fourteenth of Nisan, and said to him. My son, behold,
this night they on high praise the Lord of the world,
and the treasures of the dew are opened in it. And he
said, Behold, I am.
And he said. Behold, now I am old ; I know not the
day of my death: but now take thy weapons,6 thy
quiver 7 and thy bow ; and go forth into the field, and
take me venison, and make me food such as I love, and
bring to me, and I will eat, that my soul may bless
thee ere I die.
And Rivekah heard by the Holy Spirit as Izhak
spake with Esau his son. And Esau went to the
field to take venison to bring it. And Rivekah spake
* " The instruments of thy arms.” 7 “ House of arrows.”
246 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
to Jakob her son, saying, Behold, this night those on
high praise the Lord of the world, and the treasures of
the dew are opened in it ; and I have heard thy father
speaking with Esau thy brother, saying, Bring me
venison, and make me food, and I will bless thee in the
presence of the Lord before I die. And now my son
receive from me what I command thee : Go now to the
house of the flock, and take me from thence two fat
kids of the goats ; one for the pascha, and one for the
oblation of the feast ; and I will make of them food for
thy father such as he loveth. And thou shalt carry to
thy father, and he will eat, that he may bless thee
before his death.
And because Jakob was afraid to sin, fearing lest his
father might curse him, he said, Behold, Esau my
brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. Per¬
haps my father will feel me, and I shall be in his eyes
like one who derideth him, and bring upon me a curse
and not a blessing.
And she said. If with blessings he bless thee, they
shall be upon thee and upon thy sons; and if with
curses he should curse thee, they shall be upon me and
upon my soul : therefore receive from me, and go and
take for me.
And he went and took, and brought to his mother ;
and his mother made food such as his father loved.
And Bivekah took the pleasant vestments of Esau her
elder son which had formerly been Adam's ; but which
that day Esau had not worn, but they remained with
her in the house, and (with them) she dressed Jakob
her younger son. And the skins of the kids she laid
upon his hands and the smooth parts of his neck.
And the food and the bread she had made she set in
the hand of Jakob her son.
And he entered unto his father, and said, My
XXVII.] ON GENESIS. 247
father. And he said, Behold me : who art thou, my
son ? And Jacob said to his father, I am Esau thy
firstborn : I have done as thou spakest with me. Arise
now, sit 8 and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless
me. And Izhak said to his son, What is this that
thou hast found so soon, my son ? And he said,
Because the Lord thy God had prepared it before me.
And Izhak said to Jakob, Come near now, and I will
feel thee, my son, whether thou be my son Esau or
not. And Jakob drew near to Izhak his father, who
touched him, and said, This voice is the voice of Jakob,
nevertheless the feeling of the hands is as the feeling of
the hands of Esau. But he recognised him not,
because his hands were hairy as the hands of Esau his
brother, and he blessed him. And he said. But art
thou my son Esau ? And he said, I am. And he said,
Draw near, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my
soul may bless thee. And he approached him, and he
ate ; and he had no wine ; but an angel prepared it for
him, from the wine which had been kept in its grapes
from the days of the beginning of the world ; and he
gave it into Jakob's hand, and Jakob brought it to his
father, and he drank. And Izhak his father said. Draw
near now, and kiss me, my son ; and Jakob drew near
and kissed him. And he smelled the smell of his vest¬
ments, and blessed him, and said. See, the smell of my
son is as the smell of the fragrant incense which is to be
offered on the mountain of the house of the sanctuary,
which shall be called a field which the Lord hath
blessed, and that He hath chosen, that therein His
Shekinah might dwell.
Therefore the Word of the Lord give thee of the
8 Or, “ recline.”
9 Jerusalem, “ The feeling of his hands, the feeling of the hands
of Esau.”
248 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
good dews which descend from the heavens, and of the
good fountains that spring up, and make the herbage
of the earth to grow from beneath, and plenty of pro¬
vision and wine. Let peoples be subject to the£, all
the sons of Esau, and kingdoms bend before thee, all
the sons of Keturah ; a chief and a ruler be thou over
thy brethren, and let the sons of thy mother salute
thee. Let them who curse thee, my son, be accursed
as Bileam bar Beor ; and them who bless thee be blessed
as Mosheh the prophet, the scribe of Israel. [Jeru¬
salem. Let peoples serve before thee, all the sons
of Esau : all kings be subject to thee, all the sons
of Ishmael : be thou a chief and a ruler over the sons of
Keturah : all the sons of Laban the brother of thy
mother shall come before thee and salute thee. Whoso
curseth thee, Jakob, my son, shall be accursed as
Bileam ben Beor ; and whoso blesseth thee shall be
blessed as Mosheh the prophet and scribe of Israel.]
And it was when Izliak had finished blessing Jakob,
and Jakob had only gone out about two handbreadths
from Izhak his father, that Esau his brother came in
from his hunting. And the Word of the Lord had
impeded him from taking clean venison ; but he had
found a certain dog,1 and killed him, and made food of
him, and brought to his father, and said to his father,
Arise, my father, and eat of my venison, that thy soul
may bless me.
And Izhak his father said to him, Who art thou ?
And he said, I am thy firstborn, Esau. And Izhak was
moved with great agitation when he heard the voice of
Esau, and the smell of his food rose in his nostrils as
the smell of the burning of Gehennam ; and he said,
Who is he who hath got venison, and come to me, aud
I have eaten of all which he brought me before thou
1 Calumny.
ON GENESIS.
XXVII.]
249
earnest, and I have blessed him, and he shall, too, be
blessed ?
When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried
with a cry exceeding great and bitter, and said to his
father, Bless me, me also, my father ! And he said.
Thy brother hath come with subtilty, and hath received
from me thy blessing. And he said, His name is truly
called Jakob ; for he hath dealt treacherously with me
these two times : my birthright he took, and, behold,
now he hath received my blessing ! And he said, Hast
thou not reserved a blessing for me ? And Izhak
answered and said to Esau, Behold, I have appointed
him a ruler over thee, and all his brethren have I made
to be his servants, and with provision and wine have I
sustained him : and now go, leave me ; for what can I
do for thee, my son ? And Esau answered his father,
Hast thou but one blessing, my father ? Bless me, me
also, my father. And Esau lifted up his voice and
wept.
And Izhak answered and said to Esau, Behold,
among the good fruits of the earth shall be thy habita¬
tion, and with the dews of the heavens from above.
And upon thy sword shalt thou depend, entering at
svery place : yet thou shalt be supple and credulous, and
be in subjection to thy brother ; but it will be that
tfhen his sons become evil, and fall from keeping the
commandments of the law, thou shalt break his yoke
)f servitude from off thy neck. [Jerusalem. And by
hy weapons thou shalt live, and before thy brother be
subject. And it shall be when the sons of Jakob labour
n the law, and keep the commandments, they will set
he yoke of subjection on thy neck ; but when the sons
>f Jakob withdraw themselves and study not the law,
lor keep the commandments, behold, then shalt thou
>reak their yoke of subjection from off thy neck.]
m 5
250 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP. 1
And Esau kept hatred in his heart against Jakob his
brother, on account of the order of blessing with which
his father had blessed him. And Esau said in his
heart, I will not do as Kain did, who slew Habel in the
life (time) of his father, for which his father begat Sheth,
but will wait till the time when the days of mourning
for the death of my father come, and then will I kill
Jakob my brother, and will be found the killer and the
heir.
And the words of Esau her elder son, who thought
in his heart to kill Jakob, were shown by the Holy
Spirit to Eivekah, and she sent, and called Jakob her
younger son, and said to him, Behold, Esau thy brother
lieth in wait for thee, and plotteth against thee to
kill thee. And now, my son, hearken to me : arise,
escape for thy life, and go unto Laban my brother, at
Haran, and dwell with him a few days, until the wrath
of thy brother be abated, until thy brother's anger have
quieted from thee, and he have forgotten what thou
hast done to him ; and I will send and take thee from
thence. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one
day : thou being slain, and he driven forth, as Hava
was bereaved of Habel, whom Kain slew, and both were
removed from before Adam and Hava all the days of
the life of Adam and Hava ? [Jerusalem. Until the
time when the bitterness of thy brother shall be turned
away from thee.]
And Eivekah said to Izhak, I am afflicted in my life
on account of the indignity of the daughters of lieth.
If Jakob take a wicked wife from the daughters of
lieth, such as these of the daughters of the people of
the land, what will life be to me ?
XXVIII. And Izhak called Jakob, and blessed him,
and commanded him, and said to him, Thou shalt not
take a wife from the daughters of the Kenaanaee.
XXVIII.] ON GENESIS. 251
Arise, go to Padan of Aram, to the house of Bethuel
thy mother's father, and take thee from thence a wife
from the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.
And El Shadai will bless thee with many possessions,
and increase thee and multiply thee into twelve tribes,
and thou shalt be worthy of the congregation of the
sons of the Sanhedrin, the sum of which is seventy,
according to the number of the nations. And He will
give the blessing of Abraham to thee, and to thy sons
with thee, and cause thee to inherit the land of thy
sojourning, which he gave unto Abraham. And Izhak
sent Jakob away, and he went to Padan Aram unto
Laban bar Bethuel the Aramite, the brother of Bivekah
the mother of Jakob and Esau.
And Esau considered that Izhak had blessed Jakob,
and had sent him to Padan Aram to take to him from
thence a wife, when he blessed him, and commanded
him, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters
of the Kenaanites; and that Jakob obeyed the word of
his father, and the word of his mother, and was gone to
Padan Aram : and Esau considered that the daughters
of Kenaan were evil before Izhak his father, and Esau
went unto Ishmael, and took to wife Mahalath, who is
Basemath the daughter of Ishmael bar Abraham, the
sister of Nebaioth from his mother, besides his other
wives.
252
TARGUM OF PALESTINE
[chap.
SECTION VII.
VAYETSE.
Five miracles were wrought for our father Jakob at
the time that he went forth from Beersheba. The first
sign : the hours of the day were shortened, and the sun
went down before his time, forasmuch as the Word had
desired to speak with him. The second sign : the four
stones which Jakob had set for his pillow he found in
the morning had become one stone. Sign the third :
the stone which, when all the flocks were assembled,
they rolled from the mouth of the well, he rolled away
with one of his arms. The fourth sign : the well over¬
flowed, and the water rose to the edge of it, and con¬
tinued to overflow all the days that he was in Haran.
The fifth sign : the country was shortened before him,
so that in one day he went forth and came to Haran.
And he prayed in the place of the house of the
sanctuary, and lodged there, because the sun had gone
down. And he took four stones of the holy place, and
set his pillow, and slept in that place. And he dreamed,
and, behold, a ladder was fixed in the ground, and the
top of it reached to the height of heaven. And, behold,
the two angels who went unto Sedom, and who had
been expelled from the midst of them, because they had
revealed the secrets of the Lord of the world ; and being
cast forth they had walked till the time that Jakob went
out from the house of his father, and had accompanied
him with kindliness unto Bethel, — in that day had
ascended to the high heavens, and said, Come, see
Jakob the pious, whose likeness is inlaid in the throne
of glory, and whom you have so greatly desired to
behold. Then the rest of the angels of the holy Lord
descended to look upon him.
XXVIII.] ON GENESIS. 253
[Jerusalem. Five signs were wrought for our father
Jakob at the time he went forth from Beersheba to
go unto Haran. The first sign : the hours of the day
were shortened for him, and the sun was hidden from
him before its time, because His Word had desired to
speak with him. The second sign : after our father
Jakob had lifted up his feet from Beersheba, the
country was shortened before him, and he found himself
sitting in Haran. The third sign : the stones which
Jakob our father had taken in the evening, and set as
the resting-place of his head, when he had risen in the
morning he found had all become one stone ; and that
is the stone which he set up in the first covenant,
pouring oil upon the top of it. The fourth sign : when
all the shepherds had gathered together at the stone to
roil it from the mouth of the well, and could not, then
came our father Jakob and lifted it with one hand, and
watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. The
fifth sign : after our father Jakob had lifted the stone
from the mouth of the well, the well overflowed, and
was overflowing twenty years ; all the days that our
father Jakob dwelt in Haran. These five signs were
wrought for our father Jakob in the time when he
departed from Beersheba to go to Charan.
[12. And he dreamed, and, behold, a ladder was
fixed in the earth, and the summit of it reached to the
height of heaven. And, behold, the angels who had
accompanied him from the house of his father, ascended
to make known to the angels on high, saying, Come,
see Jakob the pious, whose likeness is in the throne of
glory, and whom you have been desirous to see ! And,
behold, the holy angels from before the Lord ascended
and descended, and looked upon him.]
And, behold, the Glory of the Lord stood above him,
and He said to him, I am the Lord the God of Abraham
254 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
thy father, and the God of Izhak. The land on which
thou art lying I will give to thee and to thy sons.
And thy sons shall be many as the dust of the earth,
and shall become strong on the west and on the east,
on the north and on the south : and all the kindreds of
the earth shall through thy righteousness and the right¬
eousness of thy sons be blessed. And, behold, My
Word is for thy help, and will keep thee in every place
where thou shalt go, and will bring thee (again) to this
land ; for I will not leave thee until the time when I
have performed all that I have told thee.
And Jakob awoke from his sleep, and said, Verily
the Glory of the Lord's Shekinah dwelleth in this place,
and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How
dreadful and glorious is this place ! This place is not
common, but the sanctuary3 of the Name of the Lord,
the proper spot for prayer, set forth before the gate of
heaven, and founded beneath the throne of glory.
And Jakob arose in the morning, and took the stone
which he had placed for his pillow, and set it standing,
and poured oil on the top of it. And he called the
name of that place Beth El ; but Luz was the name of
the city at the first. And Jakob vowed a vow, saying,
If the Word of the Lord will be my Helper, and will
keep me from shedding innocent blood, and from
strange worship, and from impure converse, in this way
that I am going ; and will give me bread to eat, and
raiment to wear, and will bring me back in peace to my
father's house ; the Lord shall be my God : and this
stone which I have set (for) a pillar shall be ordained
for the house of the sanctuary of the Lord, and upon it
shall generations worship the Name of the Lord; and
of all that Thou mayest give me, the tenth will I
separate before Thee.
2 Beth Mikdash , " the holy house.”
XXIX.] ON GENESIS. 255
XXIX. And Jakob lifted up his feet lightly3 to
proceed, and he came to the land of the children of the
east. And he looked and saw, and behold (there was)
a well in a field, and behold there three flocks of
sheep lying near it ; because from that well they
watered the flocks ; and a great stone was laid upon the
mouth of the well. And they gathered the flocks there,
and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered
the sheep, and set the stone on the mouth of the well
in its place.
And Jakob said to them. My brethren, whence are
you ? And they said, Prom Haran are we. And he
said to them, Know you Laban bar Nachor? And
they said, We know. And he said, Hath he peace ?
And they said, Peace ; and, behold, Rahel his daughter
cometh with the sheep. And he said. Behold, the time
of the day is great ; it is not time to gather home the
cattle; water the sheep, and let them go (again) to
pasture. [Jerusalem. It is not time to gather.]
And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks are
gathered together, and we roll the stone from the mouth
of the well and water the sheep.
While they were speaking with him, Rahel came with
her father's sheep ; for she was a shepherdess at that
time, because there had been a plague from the Lord
among the sheep of Laban, and but few of them were
left, and he had dismissed his shepherds, and had put
the remaining (flock) before Rahel his daughter. And
it was when Jakob saw Rahel the daughter of Laban
his mother's brother that Jakob went nigh, and rolled
the stone with one of his arms from the mouth of the
well ; and the well uprose, and the waters ascended to
the top of it ; and he watered the sheep of Laban his
mother's brother ; and it uprose for twenty years.
3 Or, “ with agility.”
256 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP,
And Jakob kissed Eahel, and lifted up bis voice and
wept. And Jakob told unto Eahel, that he was come to be
with her father to take one of his daughters. And
Eahel answered him, Thou canst not dwell with him,
for he is a man of cunning. And Jakob said to her,
I am more cunning and wiser than he ; nor can he do
me evil, because the Word of the Lord is my Helper.
And when she knew that he was the son of Eivekah,
she ran and made it known to her father. And it was
when Laban heard the account of the strength and
piety of Jakob the son of his sister; how he had taken
the birthright and the order of blessing from the hand
of his brother, and how the Lord had revealed Himself
to him at Bethel ; how the stone had been removed,
and how the well had upflowed and risen to the brink ;
he ran to meet him and embrace him, and kissed him
and led him into his house ; and he related to Laban
all these things. And Laban said to him, Truly thou
art my near one and my blood ; and he dwelt with him
a month of days.
And Laban said to Jakob, Though thou art reputed
my brother, shouldst thou serve me for nothing ? Tell
me, what shall be thy wages? And Laban had two
daughters, the name of the elder Leah, and the name of
the younger Eahel. And the eyes of Leah were moist,
(or dropping, running,4) from weeping and praying
before the Lord that he would not destine her for Esau
the wicked ; and Eahel was beautiful in appearance,
and of a fair countenance. [Jerusalem. And the eyes
of Leah were tender, for she had wept and prayed that
she might not be brought up in the lot of Esau;5 and
Eahel was beautiful in appearance, and of fair coun¬
tenance.] And Jakob loved Eahel ; and he said, I will
4 Tsiran, “ triefdugig .” — Dessauer.
5 Lit., “in the planet of Esau,” t. e., “be destined to be his wife.”
XXIX.] ON GENESIS. 257
serve thee seven years for Rahel thy younger daughter.
And Laban said, with deceit. It is better that I give
her to thee, than to another man; abide with me.
And Jakob served for Rahel seven years; and they
seemed in his eyes as a few days, because he loved her.
And Jakob said to Laban, Give me my wife : for the
days of my service are completed, and I will go in with
her. And Laban gathered all the men of the place,
and made them a feast. Answering he said to them,
Behold, seven years since Jakob came to us the wells
have not failed and the watered places are multiplied :
and now come, let us counsel against him cunning
counsel, that he may remain with us. And they gave
him cunning counsel that he should take Leah to him
instead of Rahel.
[Jerusalem. And Laban gathered all the people of
the place, and made a feast. And Laban answered and
said to them, Behold seven years are from the coming
of this just man to us ; our waterings have not failed,
and our springs are many : and now come, give me
counsel how we may settle (or subject) him among us
yet seven years. And they gave him cunning counsel
to take Leah to him instead of Rahel.]
And it was in the evening that he brought Leah his
daughter, and introduced her to him, and he went in
with her. And Laban gave to him Zilpha his daughter,
whom his concubine had borne to him, and he delivered
her to Leah his daughter to be her handmaid. And it
was the time of the morning, and he saw her, and,
behold, she was Leah, whom all the night he had
thought to be Rahel ; because Rahel had delivered to
her all the things with which Jakob had presented her.
But when he saw this, he said to Laban, What is this
that thou hast done to me ? Was it not for Rahel that
I served with thee ? Why hast thou deceived me ?
258 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
And Laban said, It is not so done in our place, to give
the younger before the elder. Fulfil now the seven
days of the feast of this, and I will give thee also that
for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven
other years. [Jerusalem. Fulfil the seven days of this
feast of Leah, and I will give.] And Jakob did so, and
fulfilled the seven days of the feast of Leah, and he gave
him Eahel his daughter to wife. And Laban gave to
Eahel his daughter Bilhah, whom his concubine bare
him, and he delivered her unto ber to be her handmaid.
And he went in also unto Eahel ; and he loved Eahel
also more than Leah. And he served with him for her
yet seven other years. And it was revealed before the
Lord that Leah was not loved in the sight of Jakob;
and He said in His Word that sons should be given her,
and that Eahel should be barren. And Leah conceived
and bare a son, and called his name Eeuben : for she
said, My affliction was manifest before the Lord, there¬
fore now will my husband love me ; for my affliction
hath been manifested before the Lord as will be the
affliction of my children before the Lord when they shall
be enslaved in the land of the Mizraee. And she con¬
ceived again, and bare a son. And she said, Because it
was heard before the Lord that I was hated, and He
gave me this also : and so will be heard before Him the
voice of my children when they shall be enslaved in
Mizraim. And she called his name Shimeon. And
she conceived again, and bare a son, and said, This time
will my husband be united to me, because I have borne
him three sons ; and thus will it be that my children
shall be united to serve before the Lord : therefore she
called his name Levi. And she conceived again, and
bare a son, and said, This time will I give praise before
the Lord ; for from this my son kings shall come forth,
and from him shall spring David the king, who shall
XXX.] OH GENESIS. 259
offer praise before the Lord ; therefore she called his
name Jehudah. And she ceased to bear.
XXX. And Rahel saw that she bare not to Jakob,
and Rahel was envious of her sister, and said to Jakob.
Pray before the Lord that He give me children ; and if
not, my life I shall reckon as the dead. And the anger
of Jakob was strong against Rahel, and he said, Why
do you ask of me ? Ask before the Lord, from before
whom are children, and who hath restrained from thee
the fruit of the womb. And she said. Behold my hand¬
maid Bilhah, enter with her, that she may bear, and I
may increase and may be builded up from her. And
she made her handmaid Bilhah free, and delivered her
to him, and Jakob entered with her. And Bilhah con¬
ceived, and bare a son to Jakob. And Rahel said. The
Lord hath judged me in His good mercies ; He hath
also heard the voice of my prayer, and given me a
son; and so it is to be that He shall judge by the
hand of Shimshon bar Manovach, who shall be of his
seed ; and hath he not delivered into his hand the
people of the Philistaee ? Therefore she called his name
Dan. And Bilhah the handmaid of Leah conceived
again, and bare a second son to Jakob. And Rahel
said. With affliction afflicted was I before the Lord in
prayer ; therefore He hath received my request that I
might have a son as my sister, and hath given me two.
Even so are my children to be redeemed from the hand
of their enemies when they shall afflict themselves
in prayer before the Lord ; and she called his name
Naphtali.
And Leah saw that she had ceased from bearing, and
she made Zilpha her handmaid free, and gave her unto
Jakob to wife. And Zilpha the handmaid of Leah
conceived, and bare Jakob a son ; and Leah said, Good
fortune cometh ; his children shall surely inherit their
260 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
habitation on the east side of Jardena : and she called
his name Gad. [Jerusalem. And Leah said, Good
success cometh ; for the feastings of the Gentiles are to
be cut off : and she called.] And Zilpha the handmaid
of Leah bare a second son to Jakob. And Leah said,
Praise shall be mine : for the daughters of Israel will
praise me, as his children will be praised before the
Lord for the goodness of the fruit of his land ; and she
called his name Asher.
And Reuben went in the days of Sivan, in the time
of wheat harvest, and found (yavruchin) mandrakes in the
field ; and he brought them to Leah his mother. And
Rahel said to Leah, Give me now of thy son’s m^Wrakes.
And she said to her, Is it a little thing that thou hast
taken my husband, and thou seekest to take also my
son’s mandrakes ? And Rahel said, Therefore shall he
lie with thee this night for thy sou’s mandrakes.
[Jerusalem. For a week he shall consort with thee.]
And Jakob came from the field at evening. And Leah
heard the voice of the braying of the ass, and knew that
Jakob had come, and Leah went forth to meet him, and
said, Thou wilt enter with me, because hiring I have
hired thee with my son’s mandrakes from Rah el my
sister. And he lay with her that night. And the
Lord heard the prayer of Leah, and she conceived, and
bare to Jakob a fifth son. And Leah said, The Lord
hath given me my reward, for that I* gave my handmaid
to my husband ; even so shall his children receive a
good reward, because they will occupy themselves with
the law. And she called his name Issakar.
And Leah conceived again, and bare a sixth son to
Jakob ; and said, The Lord hath endowed me with a
good dowry by children. This time will the habitation
of my husband be with me, because I have borne him six
sons : and thus shall his children receive a good portion.
ON GENESIS.
261
XXX.]
And she called his name Zebnlnn. And afterward she
bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah ; for she
said, Judgment is from before the Lord, that there shall
be from me a half of the tribes ; but from Rah el my
sister shall go forth two tribes, even as they shall proceed
(in like manner) from each of the handmaids. And the
prayer of Leah was heard before the Lord ; and the
infants were changed in their wombs ; and Joseph was
given to the womb of Rahel, and Dinah to the womb of
Leah. And the remembrance of Rahel came before the
Lord, and the voice of her prayer was heard before
Him ; and He said in his Word that He would give her
sons.
[Jerusalem. Lour keys are held in the hand of
the Lord of all the world, even the Lord, and He will
not deliver them either to angel or to saraph ; the key of
the rain, the key of the provender, the key of the sepul¬
chre, the key of barrenness. The key of rain : for thus
:he Scripture expoundeth, The Lord shall open unto thee
His good treasure, &c. The key of provender: for
bus the Scripture expoundeth, Thou openest thine
land, &c. The key of the sepulchre : for thus the
Scripture expoundeth, When I shall open your
iepulchre, &c. The key of barrenness : for thus the
Scripture expoundeth. And Elohim remembered
iahel, &c. And the Word of the Lord remembered
lahel in His good compassions, and the Word of the
jord heard the voice of her prayer, and He said in His
W>rd that He would give her children.]
And she conceived and bare a son, and said, The Lord
lath gathered off my reproach, even as J ehoshua the son
f Joseph will gather off the reproach of Mizraim from
he sons of Israel, and will circumcise them beyond
ardena. And she called his name Joseph, saying,
die Lord will add me yet another son to this one.
262 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
And it was when Rahel had borne Joseph, Jakob !
said by the Holy Spirit concerning the house of Joseph, !
They are to be as a flame to consume the house of Esau; |
and he said, Therefore will I not be afraid of Esau and
his legions. And he said unto Laban, Send me away,
and I will go to my place and to my country. Give me
my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee,
and I will go ; for thou knowest my service with which
I have served thee. But Laban said to him, If now I have
found grace in thy eyes, [Jerusalem. I have observed,]
I have observed by divination that the Lord hath blessed
me for thy sake. And he said, Appoint6 thy wages with
me, and I will give thee.
And he said to him, Thou knowest how I have served
thee, and how thy cattle have been kept by me : for the |
little flock which thou hadst before me hath increased
greatly, and the Lord hath blessed thee at my foot, that
I have been profitable to thee from (the time of) my j
coming into thy house. And now when shall I do the *
work for which I am bound, to nourish the men of my ,
house ? And he said, What shall I give thee ? And
Jakob said, Thou shalt not give me anything else, (but)
do me this thing, and I will return and pasture thy
flock, and keep them. I will pass through thy whole
flock to-day, and will set apart every lamb streaked and
spotted, and every black lamb among the lambs, and:
spotted and streaked among the goats, and they shall j
be my wages. [Jerusalem. Every lamb spotted andj
streaked, and every black lamb among the lambs, and
the spotted and streaked among the goats.] And my
righteousness shall testify for me to-morrow,7 when ray
wages shall be brought before thee. Every one which is
not streaked or spotted among the goats, or black among
the lambs, shall be as if it had been a theft of mine.
6 Or, “ negotiate.” - 7 “ The day after.”
XXXI.] ON GENESIS. 263
And Laban said to him, Well, let it be according to
thy word. And he separated that day the goats which
were marked in their feet, and the spotted, and all the
goats streaked or spotted, every one wdiich had a white
place in him, and every black one among the lambs,
and gave them into the hand of his sons. And he set
a journey of three days between his flocks and (those of)
Jakob. And Jakob tended the flock of Laban, the old
and the feeble which were left.
And Jakob took to him a rod of flowering poplar,
and of almond, and of the plane tree, and peeled in
them white peelings to disclose the white which was in
the rods. And the rods which he had peeled, he fixed
in the canals, in the troughs of water ; at the place to
which they brought the flocks to water, there placed he
them over against the flock, that they might conceive
when they came to drink. [Jerusalem. In the canals.]
And the sheep conceived over against the rods, and the
sheep produced such as were marked in their feet, and
spotted and white in their backs. And the lambs did
J akob set apart, and place in front of the flocks ; all
the various-coloured and the black among Laban's sheep
he set for himself a flock apart, and did not mix them
with the sheep of Laban. And it wras that whenever
the early (prime) sheep conceived, Jakob set the rods
in the canals before the eyes of the sheep, that they
might conceive before the rods. But with the late
sheep he did not set them ; and the late sheep were
Laban's and the early ones Jakob's. And the man
increased greatly, and had a multitude of flocks, and
handmaids, and servants, and camels, and asses.
XXXI. But he heard the words of the sons of
Laban, saying, Jakob hath taken all that was our
father's ; and from that which was our father's he hath
made himself all the glory of these riches. And Jakob
264 TARGUM OP PALESTINE [CHAP.
observed the looks of Laban, and, behold, they were not
peaceful toward him as yesterday and as before it.
And the Lord said to Jakob, Return to the land of thy
fathers, and to thy native place; and My Word shall be
for thy help.
And Jakob sent Naphtali, who was a swift mes¬
senger, and he called Rahel and Leah, and they came
into the field unto his flock. And he said to them, I
consider the looks of your father, and, behold, they are
not peaceful with me as yesterday and as before it ; but
the God of my father hath been to my aid. And you
know that with all my strength I have served your
father, but your father hath deceived me, and hath
changed [Jerusalem. Hath commuted] my wages ten
portions ; yet the Lord hath not given him power to do
me evil. If now he said, The streaked shall be thy
wages, all the sheep bare streaked ; and if now he said,
The spotted-footed shall be thy wages, all the sheep
bare those which were spotted in their feet : and
the Lord hath taken away the flock of your father,
and hath given (it) to me. [Jerusalem. And the
Word of the Lord hath taken away.] And it was
at the time when the flocks conceived, that I lifted
up my eyes and saw in a dream, and, behold, the
goats which rose upon the flock were spotted in their j
feet, or streaked or white in their backs. And
the Angel of the Lord said to me, in a dream,
Jakob. And I said, Behold me. [Jerusalem.
Jakob answered in the holy tongue, and said, Behold
me.] And He said, Lift up now thine eyes and see:
all the goats that rise upon the flock are spotted in
their feet, or streaked or white in their backs :
because all the injury that Laban hath done thee i3
manifest before me. I am Eloha who did reveal Myself
to thee at Beth El, where thou didst anoint the pillar,
ON GENESIS.
265
XXXI. J
and swear the oath before Me. Arise now, go forth
from this land, and return to the land of thy
birth.
And Eahel answered with the consent of Leah, and
said to him, Can there now be yet any portion or in¬
heritance for us in our father’s house ; are we not con¬
sidered by him as strangers P For he hath sold us, and
eating he hath eaten our money. Therefore all the
wealth that the Lord hath taken from our father is ours
and our children's. And now, all that the Lord hath
said to thee, do. [Jerusalem. Are we not consi¬
dered strangers to him? for he hath sold us, and,
behold, he is not willing to give us our dowry.8]
And Jakob arose, and set his children and his wives
upon camels. And he led all his herds and his sub¬
stance which he had obtained in Padan Aram to go
unto Izhak his father in the land of Kenaan. [Jeru¬
salem. His treasure.]
And Laban had gone to shear his flock ; and Rahel
stole the images.9 For they had slain a man, a first¬
born, and had cut off his head ; they salted it with salt
ind balsams, and wrote incantations on a plate of gold,
md put it under his tongue, and set it up in the wall,
ind it spake with them ; and unto such their father
iovied himself. And Jakob stole the knowledge of
Laban the Aramite, in that he did not show him when
ie went. And he went, he with all that.he had. And
ie arose and crossed the Pherat, and set his face to
iscend toward the mountain of Gilead ; because he saw
>y the Holy Spirit that from thence would be deli-
erance for his sons, in the days of Jephtach, who was
f Gilead.
But after Jakob had gone, the shepherds went to the
ell, but found no water ; and they waited three days,
Ketubathan. 9 Tmlmanaia.
N
266 TARGUM OP PALESTINE [CHAP. :
if that it might (again) overflow ; but it overflowed
not ; and then came they to Laban on the third day,
and he knew that Jakob had fled ; because through his
righteousness it had flowed twenty years. [Jerusalem.
And it was, when the shepherds were gathered together,
they sought to water the flock, but were not able ; and
they waited two and three days, if that the well might
overflow ; but it overflowed not ; and then came they
to Laban in the third day, because Jakob had fled.]
And he took his kinsmen with him, and pursued after
him, going seven days, and overtook him, while sojourn¬
ing in Mount Gilead, offering praise and praying before
his God. And there came an angel with a word from
before the Lord ; and he drew the sword against Laban
the deceitful, in a dream of the night, and said to him,
Beware lest thou speak with Jakob from good to evil. £
And Laban came upon Jakob. And Jakob had
spread his tent in the mountain, and Laban made his
brethren abide in the mount of Gilead. And Laban
said to Jakob, What hast thou done? Thou hast
stolen my knowledge, and led away my daughters like
captives of the sword. Why didst thou hide from me
that thou wouldst go, and steal my knowledge, and not
tell me? For if thou hadst told me, I would have sent
thee away with mirth, and with hymns, and with tam¬
bourines, and with harps. Neither hast thou suffered
me to kiss the .sons of my daughters, nor my daughters.
Now hast thou been foolish in what thou hast done.
There is sufficiency in my hand to do evil with thee;
[Jerusalem. There are strength and ability ;] but the
God of thy father spake with me in the evening, saying,
Be careful of speaking with Jakob from good to evil.
And now going thou wilt go; because desiring thou
hast desired the house of thy father : (but) why hast
thou stolen the images of my idols ?
XXXI.] OX GENESIS. 267
And Jakob answered and said to Laban, Because I
feared, and said, Lest thou violently take away thy
daughters from me. With whomsoever thou shalt find
the images of thy idols, let him die before his time.
Before all our brethren take knowledge of what with me
is thine, and take it. But Jakob knew not that Rahel
had stolen them. And Laban went into the tent of
Jakob, and into the tent of Leah, and into the tent of
the two concubines, but found not. And he went out
from the tent of Leah, and entered the tent of Rahel.
But Rahel had taken the images, and laid them in the
paniers of the camels, and sat upon them. And he
searched all the tent, but found not. And she said,
Let it not be displeasing in my lord's eyes that I am
not able to arise before thee, because I have the way of
women. And he searched, but found not the images.
And the anger of Jakob took fire, and he contended
with Laban. And Jakob answered and said to Laban,
What is my sin, and what my transgression, that thou
bast so eagerly come after me ? Having, therefore,
searched all my vessels, what hast thou found of all the
vessels* of thy house ? Lay now the matter before my
Drethren and thy brethren, and let them decide the
irutli between us two. These twenty years have I been
vith thee : thy ewes and thy goats have not failed, and
he price of the rams of the flock I have not eaten,
[hat torn by wild beasts I have not brought to thee;
or had I sinned, from my hand thou wouldst have
equired it. What was stolen in the day by men, that
iave I made good ; and what was stolen in the night
y wild beasts was made good also. [Jerusalem.
he dead I have not brought to thee; every one which
ad fled from the number, I have made that good ; of
iy hands thou hast required it : and what thieves stole
y day or wild beasts devoured by night I have made
N 2
268 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
good.] I have been in the field ; by day the heat hath
devoured me, and the cold by night, and sleep hath
been parted from me. These twenty years have I been
in thy house, serving thee; fourteen years for thy two
daughters, and six years for thy sheep ; and thou hast
changed my wages ten parts. Unless the God of my
father, the God of Abraham, and He whom Izhak I
feareth had been in my help, even now hadst thou sent
me away empty : but my affliction and the travail of my
hands are manifest before the Lord, and therefore He
admonished thee in the evening.
And Laban answered and said to Jakob, The children
whom thou hast received of thy wTives are my children,
and the children whom they may bear will be reputed as
mine, and the sheep are my sheep, and all that thou
seest is mine. And for my daughters w'hat can I do
this day, and for the sons which they have borne?
And now come, let us strike a covenant, I and thou,
and it shall be for a witness between me and thee.
And Jakob took a stone and set it up for a pillar.'
And Jakob said to his sons, whom he called his
brethren, Collect stones. And they collected stones, and
made a mound, and they ate upon the mound. And
Laban called it Ogar Sahid,1 but Jakob called it in the
holy tongue, Gal-ed. And The Observatory 3 also it
was called, because he said, The Lord shall observe*
between me and thee when we are hidden each man
from his neighbour. If thou shalt afflict my daughters,
doing them injury, and if thou take upon my daughters,
there is no man to judge us, the Word of the Lord
seeing is the witness between me and thee. And
Laban said to Jakob, Behold this mound, and behold
the pillar which thou hast reared between me and thee.
This mound is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that
l “ The Mound of the Testimony.” 1 Sekutha. 3 Ttsteki Yeya.
ON GENESIS.
269
xrxn.]
I may not pass beyond this mound to thee, and that
thou mayest not pass beyond this mound and this pillar
to do harm. The God of Abraham and the God of
Nachor shall judge between us, the God of their fathers.
But Jakob sware by the God whom his father Izhak
feared. And Jakob slew sacrifices in the mount, and
invited his kinsmen who came with Laban to help them¬
selves to bread, (or strengthen themselves with bread,)
and they helped themselves to bread, and lodged in
the mount. And Laban arose in the morning, and
kissed the sons of Jakob, and his daughters, and blessed
them ; and Laban went and returned to his place.
XXXII. And Jakob went on his way, and the angels
of the Lord met him. And Jakob said when he saw
them, These are not the host of Esau who are coming
to meet me, nor the host of Laban, wdio have returned
from pursuing me ; but they are the host of the holy
angels who are sent from before the Lord. Therefore
the name of that place he called, in the language of the
sanctuary, Machanaim. [Jerusalem. And Jakob,
when he beheld them, said, Perhaps they are a host
from Laban, the brother of my mother, coming to set
against me the array of battle to slay me ; or (rather)
they are a host of the holy angels from before the
Lord, who are come to save me from their hands. And
he called the name of that place Machanaim.]
270
TARGUM OF PALESTINE
[chap.
SECTION VIII.
YAYISHLACH.
And Jakob sent messengers before biin to Esau bis
brother in the land of Gabla, the territory of the
Edomites, and instructed them to say, Thus shall you
speak to my lord Esau : Thus saith thy servant Jakob,
With Laban have I dwelt, and have tarried until now.
And of all that in which my father blessed me there is
nothing in my hand ; but I have a few oxen and asses,
sheep, and servants and handmaids ; and I have sent to
tell my lord that that blessing hath not profited me ;
that I may find mercy in thine eyes, and that thou
mayest not maintain (enmity) against me on account
thereof.
And the messengers returned to Jakob, saying, We
came to thy brother, to Esau, and he also cometh to
meet thee, and four hundred chief-warriors 4 with him.
[Jerusalem. And four hundred men, warlike leaders
with him.] And Jakob was greatly afraid, because for
twenty years he had not been mindful of the glory of
his father : and he had anxiety ; and he divided the
people who were with him, the sheep, and oxen, and
camels, into three troops, for a portion to Leah, and a
portion to Rahel. And he said. If Esau come to the
one troop of them and smite it, the remaining troop may
escape. And Jakob said, God of my father Abraham,
Thou, the God of my father Izhak, the Lord, who saidst
to me, Return to thy country and to thy kindred, and I
will do thee good : I am altogether less than any of
the (acts of) goodness and truth which Thou hast
exercised towards Thy servant : for with my staff, alone,
I passed this Jardena, and now I am become two bauds.
4 Tollmen' keen, TroXe/iapxoi.
XXXII.] OX GENESIS. 271
Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my elder brother,
from the hand of Esau, for I fear him : for he hath
been mindful of the glory of his father ; lest he come
and smite the mother with the children. But Thou
hast promised me, I will surely do thee good, and will
make thy sons many as the sand of the sea, that cannot
be numbered for multitude.
And he abode there that night ; and he took what
was ready at his hand a present for Esau his brother :
she-goats two hundred, and he-goats twenty ; ewes
two hundred, and rams twenty : milch camels with
their young ones thirty; cows forty, and bulls ten, and
small colts ten. [Jerusalem. And small colts ten.]
And he made them ready by the hand of his servants in
flocks apart, and said to his servants, Pass over before
me, and put much (room) between flock and flock.
And he instructed the first, saying, When Esau my
brother shall meet thee, and ask of thee, saying, Whose
art thou, and whither art thou journeying, and whose
are these before thee ? Thou shalt say, It is a gift of
thy servant Jakob, which he sends to my lord Esau,
and, behold, he also cometh after us. And so he
instructed the second, and the third, and all them who
followed the flocks, saying. According to these words
you must speak with Esau when you find him, and say,
And, behold, thy servant Jakob also cometh after us.
For he said, I will make his countenance friendly by
the gift which goeth before me, and afterward will see
his face : peradventure he may accept me. And the
present passed over before him, and he abode that
night in the camp. And he arose in the night, and
took his two wives, and his two concubines, and his
eleven children, and went over the ford Jubeka. And
taking them he made them pass over the torrent, and
all that he had went over.
272 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
And Jakob remained alone beyond the Jubeka; and
an Ansrel contended with him in the likeness of a man.
And he said. Hast thou not promised to give the tenth
of all that is thine ? And, behold, thou hast ten sons
and one daughter : nevertheless thou hast not tithed
them. Immediately he set apart the four firstborn of
the four mothers, and there remained eight. And he
began to number from Shimeon, and Levi came up for
the tenth.
Michael answered and said, Lord of the w'orld, this
is Thy lot. And on account of these things he
(Michael) remained from God at the torrent till the
column of the morning was ascending. And he saw
that he had not power to hurt him, and he touched the
hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jakob’s thigh
was distorted in his contending with him.
And he said. Let me go, for the column of the
morning ascendeth ; and the hour cometh when the
angels on high offer praise to the Lord of the world :
and I am one of the angels of praise, but from the day
that the world was created my time to praise hath not
come until now.
And he said, I will not let thee go, until thou bless
me. [Jerusalem. And the hollow of Jakob’s thigh
was displaced in contending with him. And he said,
Send me awfay, for the column of the dawn ariseth, and,
behold, the hour cometh for the angels to praise. And
he said, 1 will not release thee until thou bless me.]
And he said, What is thy name? He answered,
Jakob. And he said, Thy name shall be no more
called Jakob, but Israel, because thou art magnified
with the angels of the Lord and with the mighty, and
thou hast prevailed with them. And Jakob asked and
said, Show me now thy name. And he said, Why dost
thou ask for my name? And he blessed Jakob there.
XXXIII.] ON GENESIS. 27-3
And Jakob called the name of the place Peniel ; for
he said, I have seen the Angels of the Lord face to face,
and my soul is saved. And the sun rose upon him
before his time, (the sun) which on his account had set
before his time, on his going out from Beersheba, as he
crossed over Peniel. And he began to journey, and
was lame upon his thigh. Therefore the sons of Israel
eat not the sinew which shrank, which is in the hollow
of the thigh of cattle and of wild animals, until this
day ; because the Angel touched and laid hold of the
hollow of the right thigh of Jakob, in the place of the
sinew which shrank.
j XXXIII. And Jakob lifted up his eyes and
looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hun¬
dred men of war. And he divided the children unto
Leah, and to Rahel, and to the two concubines, and
placed the concubines and their sons foremost ; for he
said, If Esau come to destroy the children and abuse
the women, he will do it with them, and meantime we
will arise and encounter him in fight ; and Leah and
her children after, and Bahel and Joseph after them.
And he himself went over before them, praying and
asking mercy before the Lord ; and he bowed upon the
earth seven times, until he met with his brother.
And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and
fell upon his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
Esau wept on account of the pain of his teeth which
were shaken; but Jakob wept because of the pain of
his neck. [Jerusalem. And Esau ran to meet him,
and hugged him, and fell upon his neck and kissed him.
Esau wept for the crushing of his teeth, and Jakob
wept for the tenderness of his neck.5
And he lifted up his eyes and saw the wives and the
children, and said. Who are these with thee? And he
5 See remarks in the Introduction, page 13.
N 5
274 TAIiGUM OF PALESTINE [CIIAP. f
said, They are the sons which have been given to me ]
through mercy from before the Lord upon thy servant, j
And the concubines came near, they and their children, %
and bowed themselves ; and Leah also approached, and j
her children, and bowed ; and afterward Joseph came I
near and stood before Rahel, and hid her by his stature, I
and they bowed. And he said. What to thee is all this I
troop that I have met ? And he said, It is a present I I
have sent to find mercy in the eyes of my lord. And
Esau said, I have much substance, my brother ; let what
thou hast be confirmed to thee. And Jakob said. Say
not so, I beseech thee. If now I have found favour in
thy eyes, accept mv present from my hand ; because I
have seen the look of thy face, and it is to me as the
vision of the face of thy angel ; for, lo, thou art propi¬
tious to me. Receive now the present which is brought
lo thee, because it hath been given me through mercy .
from before the Lord, and because I have much
substance. And he urged upon him, and he received. I
And he said, Let us journey and proceed, and I will
go along with thee, till thou come to the house of thy
habitation. And he said to him. My lord knowetk i
that the children are tender, and the flocks and kine
giving milk are with me ; and if I overdrive them one
day, all the flock may die. Let me beseech my lord to
pass over and journey before thy servant, and I will lead
on quietly alone, according to the foot of the work which
is before me, and according to the foot of the instruction
of the children ; until the time that I come to my lord i
at Gabla. [Jerusalem. That the children are tender.]
And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of
the soldiers who are with me. But he said, Why this ?
Let me find favour before thee, my lord. And a
miracle was wrought for Jakob, and that day Esau
returned on his way to Gabla.
ON GENESIS.
275
XXXIV.]
And Jakob journeyed to Succoth, and sojourned
there the twelve months of the year ; and he budded in
it a midrasha,6 and for his flocks he made booths ;
therefore he called the name of the place Succoth.
Then came Jakob in peace with all that he had to
the city of Shekern, in the land of Kenaan, in his
coming from Padan Aram ; and he dwelt near the city,
and bought the possession of a field where he spread
his tent from the hand of the sons of Hamor father of
Sliekem, for a hundred pearls.7 And he raised there
an altar, and there he gave the tithes which he had
set apart of all that he had before God, the God of
Israel.
.XXXIV. And Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom
she bare to Jakob, went forth to see the manners of the
daughters of the people of the land. And Shekern,
the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the land, saw
her, and took her by force, and lay with her and
afflicted her. And his soul delighted in Dinah the
daughter of Jakob; and he loved the girl, and spake
kindly to the heart of the girl. And Shekern spake to
Ilamor his fatiier, saying, Take for me this damsel to
wife. But Jakob had heard that he had polluted
Dinah his daughter. And his sons were with the
flocks in the field, and Jakob was silent until they
came.
And Ilamor the father of Shekern came forth to
Jakob to speak with him. And the sons of Jakob had
come up from the field when they heard. And the men
were indignant, and very violently moved, because
Shekern had wrought dishonour in Israel in lying with
the daughter of Jakob ; for so it was not right to have
been done.
And Hamor spake with them, saying, The soul of
6 “ A school.” 7 Margaleen.
276 TAEGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
Shekem my son delighteth in your daughter : give her,
I pray, to him to wife; and conjoin yourselves by
marriage with us. Give your daughters to us, and take
our daughters to you ; and dwell with us, and the land
shall be before you, to dwell where you please and do
business in it and possess it. And Shekem said to her
father and to her brethren, Let me find grace 8 in your
sight, and what you shall tell me I will give. Multi¬
ply upon me greatly dowry and gift, and I will give as
you shall tell me ; only give me the damsel to wife.
[Jerusalem. Dotation and marriage portion.] But
the sons of Jakob answered Shekem and Ilamor his
father with subtilty, and so spake, because he had
polluted Dinah their sister, and said to them, We can¬
not do this thing, to give our sister to a man who is
uncircumcised, because that would be a disgrace to us.
But in this we will accede to you, if you will be as we
are by circumcising every male. And we will give our
daughters to you, and will take your daughters to us,
and dwell with you, and be one people. But if you
will not hearken to us to be circumcised, we will take
our daughter by force and will go. And their words
were pleasing in the eyes of Hamor, and in the eyes
of Shekem the son of Hamor. And the young man
delayed not to do the tiling ; because he wished for the
daughter of Jakob ; and he was more honourable than
all his father’s house.
And Hamor and Shekem his son came to the gate of
their city, and spake with the men of the gate of theifr
city, saying. These men are friendly with us; and they
may dwell in the land and do business in it ; and the
land, behold, it is broad (in) limits before them ; let us
take their daughters to us for wives, and give cur
daughters to them. But in this only will the men
8 Or, “ mercies.”
XXXIV.] ON GENESIS. 277
accede to us, to dwell with us, and to be one people, by
every male of us being circumcised as they are. Their
flocks, and their substance, and all their cattle, will they
not be ours ? Only let us consent to them, and they
will dwell with us. And all they who came out of the
gate of his city received from Hamor and from Shekem
his son ; and they circumcised every male, all who came
out of the gate of the city.
And it was on the third day, when they were weak
from the pain of their circumcision, two of the sons of
Jakob, Shimeon and Levi, the brothers of Dinah, took
each man his sword, and came upon the city, which was
dwelling securely, and killed every male. And Hamor and
Shekem his son they killed with the edge of the sword ;
and they took Dinah from the house of Shekem, and
went forth. And the rest of the sons of Jakob came to
the spoil of the slain, and they sacked the city because
they had polluted their sister in the midst of it. Their
flocks, and oxen, and asses, and whatever was in the
city or in the field they spoiled ; and all their wealth
and all their little ones they took and spoiled, and all
that was in the houses.
And Jakob said to Shimeon and Levi, You have
made my name to go forth as evil among the inhabit¬
ants of the land, among the Kenaanites and Pherezites.
And I am a people of (small) number, and they will
gather together against me, and destroy me and the men
of my house. And Shimeon and Levi answered, It
would not have been fit to be said in the congregations
of Israel that the uncircumcised polluted the virgin,
and the worshippers of idols debased the daughter of
Jakob ; but it is fit that it should be said, The uncir¬
cumcised were slain on account of the virgin, and- the
worshippers of idols on account of the daughter of
Jakob. Shekem bar Hamor will not (nowr) deride us
278 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
with his words ; for as a whorish woman and an out¬
cast who hath no avenger would he have made our sis¬
ter, if we had not done this thing.
[Jerusalem. The two sons of Jakob answered to¬
gether, and said to Israel their father, It would not be
fit to be said in the congregations of Israel, in their
bouse of instruction, that the uncircuincised polluted
the virgin, and the worshippers of idols the daughter of
Jakob ; but it is fit that it be said in the congregations
of Israel and in their house of instruction, that the
uncircumcised were put to death for the sake of the
virgin, and the worshippers of idols because they had
defiled Dinah the daughter of Jakob. And Sliekem bar
Hamor will not boast in his heart and say, As a woman
who bath no man to avenge her injury, so hath Dinah
the daughter of Jakob been made. And they said,
As an impure woman and an outcast would be have
accounted our sister.]
XXX Y. And the Lord said to Jakob, Arise, go up
to Bethel and dwell there, and make there an altar
unto Eloho, who revealed Himself to thee in thy flight
from before Esau thy brother. And Jakob said to the
men of his house, and to all who were with him. Put away
the idols of the peoples which are among you which
you took from the temple 9 of Shekera, and purify you
from the uncleannesses of the slain whom you have
come nigh, and change your raiment. And we will
arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make there an
altar unto Eloha, who heard my prayer in the day
w hen I wras afflicted, and whose Word was my helper
in the way that I went.
And they delivered into Jakob's hand all the idols of
the people which w ere in their hands which they had
taken from the temple 9 of Sliekem, and the jewels that
9 Or, “ the house of idols.”
XXXV.] ON GENESIS. 279
had been in the ears of the inhabitants of the city of
Sliekem, in which was portrayed the likeness of their
images; and Jakob hid them under the terebinth that
was near to the city of Sliekem.
And they journeyed from thence, offering praise and
prayer before the Lord. And there was a tremor from
before the Lord upon the people of the cities round
about them, and they pursued not after the sons of
Jakob. And Jakob came to Luz in the land of
Kenaan, which is Bethel, he and all the people who
were with him. And he builded there an altar, and
named that place. To God, who made His Shekinah
to dwell in Bethel, because there had been revealed
to him the angels of the Lord, in his flight from before
Esau his brother.
And Deborah, the nurse of Bivekah, died, and was
buried below Bethel, in the field of the plain. And there
it was told Jakob concerning the death of Bivekah his
mother ; and he called the name of it. The other weeping.10
And the Lord revealed Himself to Jakob again on
his return from Padan of Aram, and the Lord blessed
him by the name of His Word, after the death of his
mother. And the Lord said to him. Heretofore was
thy name Jakob : thy name shall be no more called
Jakob, but Israel shall be thy name. And the Lord
said to him, I am El Shadai : spread forth and mul¬
tiply ; a holy people, and a congregation of prophets
and priests, shall be from thy sons whom thou hast
begotten, and two kings shall yet from thee go forth.
And the land which I gave to Abraham and to Izliak
will I give unto thee, and to thy sons after thee will I
give the land.
[Jerusalem. And Deborah the nurse of Bivekah
died, and was buried below Beth El under an oak : 2 and
10 Aocharan baJcutiia. 1 Beluta, query, “ chestnut.”
280 TAUGUM OF FAX ESTINE [CXIAP.
he called the name of it, The Oak of Weeping.2 The
God of eternity, whose name be Blessed for ever and
ever, hath taught us precepts which are beautiful and
statutes that are comely : He hath taught us the
blessing of matrimony from Adam and his bride, as the
scripture expoundeth. And the Word of the Lord
blessed them, and the Word of the Lord said to them,
Be strong and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue
it. He hath taught us to visit the afflicted, from our
father Abraham the Righteous, when He revealed Him¬
self to him in the plain of Vision, and gave him the
precept of circumcision, and made him to sit in the
door of his tent in the heat of the day; as the scripture
expoundeth and saith, And the Word of the Lord
revealed Himself to him in the plain of Vision. And
again He hath taught us to bless those who mourn,
from our father Jakob the Righteous : for He revealed
Himself to him on his coming, from Padan of Aram,
when the way of the world had happened to Deborah,
the nurse of Rivekah his mother, and Rah el died by
him in the way, and Jakob our father sat weeping and
bewailing her, and mourning and crying. Then wast
Thou, O Lord of all worlds, in the perfection of Thy
free mercies revealed to him, and didst comfort him, and
blessing the mourners didst bless him concerning his
mother, even as the scripture expoundeth and saith, The
Word of the Lord revealed Himself unto Jakob the second
time on his coming from Padan Aram, and blessed him.]
And the Shekinah of the Lord ascended from him in
the place where He had spoken with him. And Jakob
erected there a pillar of stone in the place where He
had spoken with him, a pillar of stone; and he out¬
poured upon it a libation of wine, and a libation of
water, because thus it was to be done at the feast of
2 Belut bakuiha.
ON GENESIS.
281
XXXV.j
Tabernacles; and he poured oil of olives thereupon.
And Jakob called the name of the place where the Lord
had spoken with him Beth El.
And they proceeded from Beth El ; and there was yet
much space of provision land in the coming to Ephrath ;
and Bahel travailed, and had hard labour in her birth.
And it was in. the hardness of her travail that the mid¬
wife said to her. Fear not, for this also is to thee a male
child. And it was in the going forth of her soul, for
death came upon her, that she called his name The son
of my woe : but his father called him Benjamin.
[Jerusalem. And there was a space, as much ground,
to come unto Ephrath ; and Bahel travailed, and had
hard labour in her birth . But his father called him
in the language of the sanctuary, Benjamin.]
And Bahel died, and was buried in the way to Eph¬
rath, which is Bethlehem. And Jakob erected a pillar
over the house of burying,3 which is the pillar of the
tomb of Bahel unto this day.
And Jakob proceeded and spread his tent beyond the
tower of Eder, the place from whence, it is to be, the
King Meshiha will be revealed at the end of the days.
And it was while Israel dwelt in this land that
Beuben went and confounded 4 the bed of Bilhah the
concubine of his father, which had been ordained along
with the bed of Leah his mother ; and this is reputed
with regard to him, as if he had lain with her. And
Israel heard it, and it afflicted him, and he said, Alas,
that one should have come forth from me so profane,
even as Ishmael came forth from Abraham, and Esau
from my father ! The Spirit of Holiness answered, and
thus spake to him : Fear not, for all are righteous, and
none of them is profane. (!)
So, after that Benjamin was born, the sons of Jakob
3 Beth keburtha. 4 Bilbal.
282 # TAEGUM OP PALESTINE [CHAP.
were twelve. The sons of Leah, the first-born of
Jakob, Beuben, and Shimeon, and Levi, and Jehudah,
and Issakar, and Zabulon. The sons of Rahel, Joseph
and Benjamin. The sons of Bilhah, the handmaid of
Bah el, Dan and Naphtali ; and the sons of Zilplia, the
handmaid of Leah, Gad and Asher. These are the
sons of Jakob who were born to him in Padan Aram, i
And Jakob came to Izhak his father, at Mamre the
city of Arba, which is Hebron, for there Abraham and
Izhak had dwelt. And the days of Izhak were an hun¬
dred and eighty years. And Izhak expired and died
and was gathered to his people, old and full of days ;
and Esau and Jakob his sons buried him.
XXXVI. These are the genealogies of Esau, who is
called Edom. Esau took wives of the daughters of
Kenaan, Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittah, and
Ahalibama the daughter of Ana, the daughter of Sibeon
the Hiva, and Basemath the daughter of Ishmael whom
Nebaioth her brother gave to him. And Adah bare to
Esau Eliphaz, and Basemath bare Beuel. And Ahali¬
bama bare to Esau Jehus, and Jaalam, and Korach.
These are the sons of Esau who were born to him in the
land of Kenaan. And Esau had taken his wives and his
sons and his daughters, and all the souls of his house,
and his flocks and his cattle, and all the substance
which he had gotten in the land of Kenaan, and had
gone into another land ; for there fell upon him a fear
of Jakob his brother: for their possessions would be too
great for them to dwell together, neither would the laud
of their sojourning maintain them, on account of their
flocks. And Esau dwelt in the mountain of Gabal. He
is Esau the prince of the Edomites.
And these are the kindreds of Esau the prince of the
Edomites, the place of whose dwelling was in the moun¬
tain of Gabal. These are the names of the sons of
XXXVI.] OX GENESIS. 283
Esau, Eliphaz bar Adah, wife of Esau ; Reuel bar
Basemath, wife of Esau. And the sons of Eliphaz were
Teman Omar, Zepliu, and Gaatam, and Kenaz, and
Timna. And Timna was the concubine of Eliphaz bar
Esau, and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek. He is Eliphaz
the companion of Job.
These are the sons of Adah wife of Esau. And
these are the sons of Reuel, Nachath and Zerach,
Shammah and Mizzah. These are the sons of Base-
math wife of Esau. x\nd these are the sons of Ahali-
bama the daughter of Anah the daughter of Sebeon
wife of Esau ; and she bare to Esau, Jehus, and Jaalam,
and Korach.
These are the chieftains of the sons of Esau; the sons
of Eliphaz, the first-born of Esau, Rabba Teman, Rabba
Omar, Rabba Zepliu, Rabba Kenaz, Rabba Korach,
Rabba Gaatam, Rabba Amalek : these are the chieftains
of Eliphaz, whose habitation w'as in the land of Edom ;
they are the sons of Adah.
And these are the sons of Reuel bar Esau ; Rabba
Nachath, Rabba Zerach, Rabba Shammah, Rabba
Mizzah ; these are the chieftains of Reuel, whose habi¬
tation was in the land of Edom. These are the sons of
Basemath wife of Esau.
And these are the sons of Alialibama wife of Esau;
Rabba Jeush, Rabba Jaalam, Rabba Korach ; these are
the chieftains of Alialibama, daughter of Adah wife of
Esau. These are the sons of Esau, and these their
chieftains. He is the father of the Edomites.
These are the sons of Gebal, the generations who
before that had dwelt in that land : Lotan, and Shobal,
and Sebeon, and Anah, and Dislion, and Etser, and
Dishan. These are the chieftains of the generations of
the sons of Gebal, whose habitation was of old in the
land of the Edomites. And the sons of Lotan were the
284 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [cHAP. \
Chori and Hemnm ; and the sister of Lotan was Timna. |
And these are the sons of Shobal, Alvan, and Mana- jl
chotli, and Ebal, Sliepho, and Onara. And these are
the sons of Sebeon, Aja and Anah : he is Anab who I
coupled the onagers with the she-asses, and after a
time found mules which had come forth from them,
when he was tending the asses of Sebeon his father. I
And these are the children of Anah : Dishon ; and '
Ahalibama was the daughter of Anah. And these are
the sons of Dishon, Hemdan, and Jisban, and Jithran, 3
and Reran. These are the sons of Etser, Bilhan, and
Zaavan, and Akan. These are the sons of Dishan,
Hutz and Aram. These are the chieftains of the
families : Rabba Lotan, Rabba Shobal, Rabba Sebeon,
Rabba Anah, Rabba Dishon, Rabba Etser, Rabba
Dishan : these are the chieftains of the families, accord¬
ing to their principalities, whose habitation was of old
in the land of Gabla.
These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom
before any king reigned over the sons of Israel. In
Edom reigned Bileam the son of Behor, and the name
of the city of the house of his kingdom was Dinhaba.
And Bela died, and in his stead reigned Jobab the son
of Zerach of Botsra. And Jobab died, and in his stead
reigned Husham of the south country ; and Husham
died, and in his stead reigned Hadad the son of Bedad,
who slew the Midianites when he arrayed war with them
in the fields of Moab, and the name of the city of the
house of his kingdom was Avith. And Hadad died,
and in his stead reigned Siinlah of Masrekah. And
Simlah died, and instead of him reigned Shaul, who
was of Rohoboth on the Pherat. And Shaul died, and
in his stead reigned Baal Hanan bar Akbor. And
Baal Hanan bar Akbor died, and instead of him reigned
Hadar ; and the name of the city of the house of his
XXXVI.] ON GENESIS. 285
kingdom was Pahu; and the name of his wife was
Mehetabel the daughter of Matred. He was the man
who laboured with perseverance and vigilance, and who,
after he had become wealthy and had gotten riches,
turned to become more lofty in his heart, saying. What is
silver, and what is gold? [Jerusalem. ■ And after him
reigned Hadar ; and the name of his city was Pahu, and
the name of his wife Mehitabel the daughter of Matred,
the daughter of the changer of gold : the man who
laboured with perseverance all the days of his life; but
who, after he had eaten and was satisfied, converted,
and said, What is gold, and what is silver ?]
And these are the names of the chieftains of Esau,
after their kindreds, after the place of their habitations,
with their names : Rabba Timna, Rabba Alva, Rabba
Jetheth, Rabba Aholibama, Rabba Elah, Rabba Phinon,
Rabba Kenaz, Rabba Teman, Rabba Mibzar, Rabba
Magdiel,— he was called Magdiel from the name of his
city whose ( migdol ) tower was strong, — Rabba Hiram.
These are the chieftains of Edom, according to their
habitations in the land of their possessions. He is Esau
the father of the Edomites.
1
SECTION IX.
VAYESHEV.
And Jakob dwelt in peace in the land of the sojourn¬
ing of his fathers, in the land of Kenaan. These are the
generations of Jakob. Joseph was a son of seventeen
years. He had come forth from the school, and was a
youth brought up with the sons of Bilhah and the sons
286 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
of Zilplia his father's wives. And Joseph brought their
evil report ; for he had seen them eat the flesh that had j
been torn by wild beasts, the ears and the tails; and
he came and told it to his father. And Israel loved
Joseph more than all his sons, because the likeness of
Joseph resembled his own, and he made him a figured
robe. [Jerusalem. A figured robe.] And his brothers
saw that their father loved him more than all his
brethren, and they cherished enmity against him, and
were unwilling to speak peacefully with him.
And Joseph dreamed a dream, and declared it to his
brethren, and they added yet to keep enmity against
him. And he said to them, Hear now this dream
which I have dreamed. Behold, we were binding sheaves
in the midst of the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and
stood upright ; and, behold, your sheaves surrounded and
bowed to my sheaf. [Jerusalem. Were binding
sheaves.] And his brothers said to him. Art thou
thinking to reign over us, or dost thou expect to have
rule over us ? And they added yet to keep enmity
against him, for his dream and. for his words.
And he dreamed again another dream, and told it to
his brothers, and said. Behold, I have dreamed yet a
dream, and, lo, the sun, and the moon, and eleven stars,
bowed to me. And he related it to his father and to \
his brethren : but his father rebuked him, and said to
him, What dream is this that thou hast dreamed ? Shall
I, and thy mother, and thy brethren, really come and
bow before thee to the ground? And his brothers
envied him ; yet his father kept the saying in his
heart.
And his brothers went to feed their father's flock in
Shekem. And it was at the time of days that Israel
said to Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed in Shekem ?
But I am afraid lest the Hivaee come and smite them,
XXXVI.] ON GENESIS. 287
because they smote Hamor and Shekem and tlie inha¬
bitants of the city. Come now, and I will send thee to
them. And he said, Behold me. And he said, Go, see
the welfare of your brethren, and the welfare of the
flock, and return me word. But he sent him according
to the deep counsel which was spoken to Abraham
in Hebron; for on that day began the captivity of
Mizraim.
And Joseph arose, and came to Shekem. And Gabriel,
in the likeness of a man, found him wandering in the
field. And the man asked him, saying, What seekest
thou ? And he said, I seek my brothers ; show me, I
pray, where they feed. And the man said. They have
journeyed hence : for I heard beyond the Veil, that,
behold, from to-day would begin the servitude to the
Mizraee; and it was said to them in prophecy, that the
Hivaee would seek to set battle in array against them.
Therefore, said they, we will go unto Dothan.
And Joseph went after his brothers, and found them
in Dothan. And they saw him from afar, before he
had come nigh to them, and plotted against him to
kill him. And Shimeon and Levi, who were brothers
in counsel, said each man to his brother, Behold, this
master of dreams cometh. And now, come, let us kill
him, and throw him into one of the pits, and say that
an evil beast hath devoured him ; and we shall see what
will be the interpretation of his dreams.
And Reuben heard, and delivered him from their
hands, and said. We will not kill him, nor become
guilty of his blood. And Reuben said. Let us not shed
innocent blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilder¬
ness, but the hand of the slayer stretch not forth against
him ; because he would deliver him from their hand, to
restore him to his father.
And when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped
288 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
him of his garment, the figured garment that was on
him, and took and threw him into the pit.; but the pit
was empty, no water was therein, but serpents and
scorpions were in it. And they sat around to eat bread.
And they lifted up their eyes, and looked, and behold a
band of Arabians [Jerusalem. A band of Saracens]
were coming from Gilead with their camels, carrying
wax, resin, balsam and stacte, proceeding to go into
Mizraim. And Jehuda said to his brethren, What
profit of mammon should we have if we killed our
brother, and covered his blood ? Come, let us sell him
to the Arabians, and our hands shall not be upon him
to kill him ; for our brother is our own flesh. And
his brethren agreed. And the Midianite men, masters
of business, passed by; and they drew and brought up
Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Arabians
for twenty mahin of silver ; and they bought sandals
of them. And they brought Joseph to Mizraim.
And Reuben returned to the pit; for he had not
been with them to assist when they sold him, because he
had sat fasting on account that he had confounded the
couch of his father ; and he had gone and sat among
the hills, that he might return to the pit and bring him
up for his father, if haply he might avert his anger.
But when he had returned, and looked, and, behold,
Joseph was not in the pit, he rent his clothes, and
returned to his brethren, and said, The youth is not ;
and I, whither shall I go, and how shall I see the look
of my father's face ?
But they took the garment of Joseph, and killed a
kid of the goats, because his blood is like the blood of
a man, and they dabbled the garment in the blood.
And they sent it by the hand of the sons of Zilplia and
of the sons of Bilhah, the figured garment ; and they
brought it to their father, and said, This have we
XXXVIII.] ON GENESIS. 289
found ; know now, whether it be thy son's garment, or
not. And he recognised it and said, It is my son's
garment : a beast of the wilderness hath not devoured
him, neither hath he been slain by the hand of man ;
but I see, by the Holy Spirit, that an evil woman
standeth against him. [Jerusalem. And he dis¬
cerned it and said, It is my son's garment : yet a wild
beast hath not devoured him, neither is my son Joseph
slain ; but I see by the Spirit of the sanctuary, that an
evil woman standeth against him.] And Jakob rent
his clothes, and wrapped sackcloth on his loins, and
mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and
all the men of his house arose and went to console
him ; but he refused to receive consolation, and said,
Tor I will go down to my son mourning to the house
of the grave. And Izhak his father also wept for him.
But the Midianites sold him in Mizraim to Potiphar
a captain of Pharoh, a captain of the guards.5 [Jeru¬
salem. To Potiphar an officer 6 of Pharoh, a captain
of the guards.]
t XXXVIII. It was at that time that Jehuda had
gone down from his property, and separated himself
from his brethren, and had inclined to a man an Adul-
lemite whose name was Hira, that Jehuda saw there the
daughter of a merchant man whose name was Shuva,
and he proselyted her, and entered with her. And she
conceived and bare a son, and called his name Er,7
because he was to die without a child. And she con¬
ceived again, and bare a son, and called his name
Onan,8 because his father would have to mourn for
him. And she added, and bare a son, and called his
name Shela, because her husband had forgotten her 1
• SapuJclatoria, “ spiculators, javelin men.” 8 Shaliia, “ ruler.”
7 Er, “naked, destitute.” 8 Onan, “ sorrow,” or, “iniquity.”
1 The Chaldee verb shelah is either “ cessavit “ destitit ,” or
“ rejecit, vel oblitus est .”
O
290 TARGTTM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
and was in cessation when she bare him. [Jerusalem.
And it was that she ceased.]
And Jeliuda took a wife for Er his firstborn, a
daughter of Shem the great, whose name was Tamar.
But Er the firstborn of Jehuda was evil before the
Lord because he had not given his seed unto his wife,
and the anger of the Lord prevailed against him, and
the Lord slew him. And Jehuda said unto Onan,
Enter thou to thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise
up seed unto the name of thy brother. And Onan
knew that they would not call the children after his
name, and it was, when he entered to the wife of his
brother, that he corrupted his work upon the earth,
that he might not raise up children to his brother's
name. And what he did was evil before the Lord, and
he cut off his days also.
And Jehuda said to Tamar his daughter-in-law,
Eemain a widow in thy father's house, till Shela my son
be grown up. Eor he said, Lest he also die as his
brethren. And Tamar went, and remained in her
father's house.
And days multiplied, and the daughter of Shuva,
Jehuda's wife, had died, and Jehuda was comforted.
And Jehuda went up to the shearing of his flock, he
and Hira his friend the Adullemite, to Timnath. And
it was told to Tamar, saying, Behold, thy father-in-law
cometh up to Timnath to shear his flock. And she put
the dress of her widowhood from her, and covered her¬
self with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the
dividing of the road where all eyes see, upon the way
of Timnath. Eor she knew that Shela was grown up,
yet she had not been given to him to be his wife. And
Jehuda saw her; but she seemed in his face as an har¬
lot,2 because she had provoked him to anger in his
2 Ke-naphkaih bara , “ as an outcast.”
XXXVIII.] ON GENESIS. 291
house, and Jehuda did not love her. [Jerusalem. For
she had enwrapped her face.] And he inclined to her
in the way and said. Let me now go in with thee : for
he knew not that she was his daughter-in-law. And
she said, What wilt thou give me to go in with me ?
And he said, I will send thee a kid of the goats from
the flock. And she said, If thou wilt give me a pledge
until thou shalt have sent. And he said, What pledge
shall I give thee ? And she answered, Thy seal, and
thy mantle, and thy staff which is in thy hand. And he
gave (them) to her, and went in with her; and she con¬
ceived by him. And she arose and went, and put her
veil from her, and put on the dress of her widowhood.
And Jehuda sent the kid of the goats by the hand of
his friend the Adullemite, to bring back the pledge from
the hand of the woman ; but he found her not. And
he asked the men of the place, saying, Where is the
harlot who was in the sight of the eyes by the way ?
And they said, There is no harlot here. And he
returned to J ehuda and said, I could not find her : and
the men of the place also said that no harlot was there.
And Jehuda said, Lest she should have taken the pledge,
lest we become a laughing-stock, behold, I have sent
this goat, and thou canst not find her.
And it was at the time of three months, that she was
known to be with child : and it was told to Jehuda,
saying, Tamar thy daughter-in-law hath committed
fornication, and, behold, she is with child by fornication.
And Jehuda said, Is she not the daughter of a priest?
Let her be brought forth and burned.
Tamar was brought forth to be burned, and she
searched for the three pledges, but found them not.
Uplifting her eyes to the heavens above, she thus said,
Mercy I implore from Thee, 0 Lord : answer Thou me
in this hour of need, and enlighten mine eyes to find
o 2
292 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
the three witnesses ; and I will dedicate unto Thee
from my loins three saints, who shall sanctify Thy
name, and descend to the furnace of fire in the plain
of Dura.
In that hour the Holy One, blessed be He, signed
to Michael, who enlightened her eyes, that she found
(the witnesses) and took and cast them before the feet
of the judges, and said. The man to whom these pledges
belong is he by whom I am with child. Yet though
I may be burned I do not make him manifest : never¬
theless the Lord of the world will cause him in his
heart to acknowledge them, and will deliver me from
this great judgment.
Now when Jehuda saw them, he recognised them,
and said in his heart. It is better for me to be ashamed
in this world that passeth away, than be ashamed in
the faces of my righteous fathers in the world to come.
It is better that I burn in this world by a fire that is
extinguished, than burn in the world to come with fire
devouring fire. Tor measure is set against measure*
This is according to that which I said to Jakob my
father. Know now the robe of thy son ; so am I now
constrained to hear at the place of judgment, Whose
are this seal and mantle and staff?
And Jehuda acknowledged and said, Tamar is
innocent ; she is with child by me. And the Bath kol
fell from heaven, and said, Trom before Me was this
thing done, and let both be delivered from judgment.
And Jehuda said, Because I gave her not to Shela my
son, hath this happened to me. But he added not to
know her again.
[Jerusalem. 19. Her veil. 25. Tamar was brought
forth to be burned with fire ; and she sought the three
witnesses, but found them not. She lifted up her eyes on
3 Mekela kebcl mekela.
ON GENESIS.
293
XXXVIII.]
high and said, For mercy I pray before the Lord. Thou
art He, 0 Lord God, who answerest the afflicted in the
hour of their affliction ; answer me in this the hour of
my affliction, and I will dedicate to thee three saints in
the valley of Dura, Hananya, Mishael, and Azarya.
[In that hour the Word of the Lord heard the voice
of her supplication and said to Mikael, Descend, and let
her eyes have light.... When she saw them, she took
them, and cast them before the feet of the judges,
saying. By the man to whom these belong I am with
child. But though I may be burned, I declare him
not, but confide in the Euler of all the world, the Lord
who is witness between me and him, that He will give
to the heart of the man to whom these belong, to ac¬
knowledge whose are these his ring, and mantle, and staff.
[And Jehuda recognised the three witnesses, and arose
upon his feet and said, I pray you, my brethren, and ye
men of the house of my fathers, to hear me. With the
measure that a man measureth shall it be measured to
him ; whether good measure or evil ; and blessed is
every man who confesseth his works. Because I took
the coat of Joseph my brother and dipped it into the
blood of a goat, and brought it before the feet of my
father and said to him, Know now whether this be thy
soffls coat or not, the measure is according to the
measure, and the rule to the rule. Better is it for me
to blush in this world than to blush in the world to
come ; better to burn with a fire that goes out, than to
burn in the fire devouring fire. Let Tamar my daughter-
in-law be spared. She hath not conceived a child by
fornication, but because I did not give to her Shela my
son.
[The Bath kol came forth from heaven, and said, Both
of you are acquitted in the judgment. The thing was
from the Lord. And he added not to know her.]
294 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
But it was in the time of her giving birth, that,
behold, twins were in her womb. And it was in being
born that the child stretched forth his hand ; and the
midwife took it, and bound it with a scarlet thread,
saying, This came the first. And after the child had
withdrawn his hand, behold, his brother came forth, and
she said, With what great power hast thou prevailed,
and for thee will it be to prevail ; for thou wilt possess
the kingdom. And she called his name Pharets. And
afterward came forth his brother, upon whose hand was
bound the scarlet thread, and she called his name Zarach.
XXXIX. But Joseph was brought down into Mizraim ;
and Potiphar,4 . a man of Mizraim, a chief of Pharoh,
a chief of the executioners, bought him with the pledge6
of the Arabians who had brought him down thither.
And the Word of the Lord was Joseph's Helper, and
he became a prosperous man in the house of his Mizraite
master. And his master saw that the Word of the
Lord was his Helper, and that the Lord prospered in
his hand all that he did ; and Joseph found favour in
his eyes, and he served him, and he appointed him
superintendent over his house, and all that he had he
delivered in his hands. [Jerusalem. And he appointed
him superintendent.]
And it was from the time he appointed him
superintendent over his house, and over all that he had,
the Lord prospered the house of the Mizraite for the
sake of the righteousness of Joseph, and the blessing of
the Lord was oil all that he had in the house and in the
field. And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand,
and took no knowledge of anything of his, except his
wife with whom he lay.
4 I have omitted two clauses in this chapter. — Translator.
5 Quando servos vendebant olim,eogebantur emptori dare spunsionewt*
quod illos non furati sint. — Castel, fol. 2889.
ON GENESIS.
295
XXXIX.]
And Joseph was of goodly form and beautiful aspect.
And it was after these things that the wife of his master
lifted up her eyes to Joseph, and said, Lie with me.
But he refused to come near her, and said to his master's
wife. Behold, my master taketh no knowledge of what
is with me in the house, and all he hath he delivereth
into my hand ; there is none in the house greater than
I, nor hath he restricted me from anything but thyself,
because thou art his wife : and how can I do this great
wickedness, and become guilty before the Lord ? And
it was when she spake with Joseph this day and the
next, and he hearkened not to her to lie with her, lest
with her he should be condemned in the day of the
great judgment of the world to come ; it was on a certain
day that he entered the house to examine the tablets of his
accounts, and there was no man of the house within ;
that she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with
me : and he left his garment in her hand, and went
forth into the street. And when she saw that he had
left his garment in her hand, and had gone forth into
the street, that she . called the men of the house and
said, See this, which the Hebrew man hath done, whom
your master hath brought to mock us. He came in to
lie with me, and I cried with a high voice. And when
he heard that I lifted up my voice, he left his garment
with me, and went forth into the street. And she let
the garment remain until his master came into his
house ; and she spake to him according to these words,
saying, The Hebrew servant whom thou broughtest to
us came in to me to mock me. [Jerusalem. 18. And
it was when I thundered with my voice.]
And when his master heard the words which his wife
spake with him, saying. According to these things did
thy servant to me, his wrath became strong. And
Joseph's master took counsel of the priests, who .
296 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
put him not to death, but delivered him into the house
of the bound, where the king's prisoners were bound;
and he was there in the house of the bound. [Jerusa¬
lem. In the prison house.] And the Word of the
Lord was Joseph's Helper, and extended mercy to him,
and gave him favour in the eyes of the captain of the
prison. And the captain of the prison confided all the
prisoners who were in the house to Joseph's hands, and
whatsoever was done there he commanded to be done.
It was not needful for the captain of the prison to watch
Joseph, after the custom of all prisoners, because he saw
that there was no fault in his hands; for the Word of
the Lord was his Helper, and that which he did the
Lord made it to prosper.
XL. And after these things it was shown, saying, The
chief of the butlers of the king of Mizraim, and the
chief of the bakers, have offended ; having taken counsel
to throw the poison of death into his food, and into his
drink, to kill their master the king of Mizraim. And
Pharoh was angry when he heard concerning his two
servants, the chief cup-bearer and the chief baker. And
he gave them in ward in the house of the chief execu¬
tioner, the prison house where Joseph was confined.
And the chief executioner intrusted Joseph with them,
and he served them, and they were certain days in the
house of custody.
And they dreamed a dream, both of them, each man
his dream in one night, each man his own dream, and the
interpretation of his companion's dream, the butler and
the baker of the king of Mizraim who were confined in the
prison. And Joseph came to them in the morning, and
saw them, and, behold, they were troubled. And Joseph
asked the chiefs of Pharoh who were with him in the
custody of his master's house, saying, Why is the look
of your faces more evil to-day than all the other days
ON GENESIS.
297
XL.]
that you have been here? And they said to him, We
have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter for
it. And Joseph answered, Are not the interpretations
of dreams from the Lord ? Tell it now to me. And
the chief of the butlers related his dream to Joseph,
and said to him, I saw in my dream, and, behold,
a vine was before me. And in the vine were three
branches ; and as it sprouted it brought forth buds, and
immediately they ripened into clusters, and became
grapes. And I saw till they gave the cup of Pharoh
into my hand, and I took the grapes, and expressed
them into Pharoh' s cup, and gave the cup into Pharoh's
hand.
And Joseph said to him, This is the end of the inter¬
pretation of the dream. The three branches are the
three Lathers of the wrorld, Abraham, Izhak, and Jakob,
the children of whose sons are to be enslaved in Mizraim
in clay and brick (work,) and in all labour of the face
of the field : but afterwards shall they be delivered by
the hand of three shepherds. As thou hast said, T took
the grapes and expressed them into Pharoh's cup, and
gave the cup into Pharoh' s hand : It is the vial of wrath
which Pharoh (himself) is to drink at the last. But
thou, the chief butler, shalt receive a good reward,
concerning the good dream which thou hast dreamed ;
and the interpretation of it, to thyself, is this : The
three branches are three days until thy liberation. At
the end of three days the memory of thee will come
before Pharoh, and he will lift up thy head with honour,
and restore thee to thy service, and thou wilt give the
cup of Pharoh into his hand, according to thy former
custom in pouring out 6 for him.
[Jerusalem. And Joseph said, This is the interpreta¬
tion of the dream : The three branches are the three
8 Or, “ commingling.”
o 5
298 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP*
Fathers of the world, Abraham, Izhak, and Jakob, the
children of whose sons will be enslaved in the land of
Mizraim, and will be delivered by the hand of three
faithful pastors, 7 who may be likened to the clusters.
And whereas thou hast said, I took the grapes and ex¬
pressed them into the cup of Pharoh, and gave the cup
into Pharoh's hand : It is the cup of retribution which
Pharoh is to drink at the last. As to thyself, the chief
of the butlers, thou wilt not lose thy reward ; for this
dream which thou hast dreamed is good. Nevertheless
the interpretation of the dream (as relating to himself)
Joseph had not told him ; but afterwards he explained
it, when it pleased him. And Joseph said to him, The
three branches are three days.]
J oseph, leaving his higher trust 8 and retaining confi¬
dence in a man, said to the chief butler, But be thou
mindful of me when it shall be well with thee, and act
kindly by me, and remember me before Pharoh, and
obtain my deliverance from this prison house. For I
vras verily carried awray dishonestly from the land of
the Hivraee ; and here also I have done nothing evil,
that they should put me in prison.
And the chief baker, when he understood the inter¬
pretation of his companion's dream, seeing that he had
interpreted well, began to speak with an impatient
tongue, and said to Joseph, I also saw in my dream,
and, behold, three baskets of fine cakes were upon my
head ; [Jerusalem. And, behold, three baskets of hot
loaves were upon my head ;] and in the upper basket of
all delicious meat for Pharoh made by the confectioner :
and the birds ate them from the basket upon my head.
Joseph answered and said, This is its interpretation.
The three baskets are the three enslavements with which
the house of Israel are to be enslaved. But thou, the
7 Or, “ rulers.” 8 Rochetsana, “ covjidentia .”
ON GENESIS.
'299
XL.]
chief of the bakers, wilt receive an evil award, by the
dream which thou hast dreamed. And J oseph explained
it, as it was proper in his eyes, and said to him : This
is its interpretation to thyself. The three baskets are
three days until thy death. At the end of three days,
Pharoh with the sword will take away thy head from
thy body, and will hang thee upon a gibbet, and the
birds will eat thy flesh from thee. [Jerusalem. And
he said to him, The three baskets are the three heavy
enslavements which are to happen to the house of Israel
in the land of Mizraim, in clay, and in bricks, and in all
work on the face of the field. It will be that Pharoh
king of Mizraim will decree evil decrees against Israel,
and throw their children into the river. Nevertheless
Pharoh will perish, and his host be destroyed, but the
sons of Israel will go forth redeemed with uncovered
head. And thou, the chief of the bakers, wilt receive
punishment; for this dream which thou hast dreamed
is evil. But the interpretation of the dream Joseph did
not (at once) make known to him ; but afterwards
Joseph expounded it, when it pleased him. And Joseph
said to him, This is the interpretation of the dream.
The three baskets are three days.]
And it was on the third day, the nativity of Pharoh,
that he made a feast to all his servants. And he lifted
up the head of the chief butler, and the head of the chief
baker, in the midst of his servants. And he restored
the chief butler to his butlership, because he found he
had not been in that counsel. And he gave the cup
into Pharoh's hand. But the chief baker he hanged,
because he had taken counsel to kill him, even as Joseph
had expounded to them.
But because Joseph had withdrawn from 9 the mercy
that is above, and had put his confidence in the chief
9 ShabaJc, “ had forsaken.’*
300 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
butler, he waited on the flesh. Therefore the chief
butler did not remember Joseph, but forgat him, until
from the Lord came the time of the end that he should
be released. [J erusalem. Joseph left the mercy above,
and the mercy beneath, and the mercy which accompanied
him from his father’s house, and put his confidence in
the chief butler : he trusted in the flesh, and the flesh
he tasted of, even the cup of death. Neither did he
remember the scripture where it is written expressly,
Cursed shall be the man who trusteth in the flesh, and
setteth the flesh as his confidence. Blessed shall be the
man who trusteth in the Name of the Word of the
Lord, and whose confidence is the Word of the Lord.
Therefore the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but
forgat him, until the time of the end came that he should
be released.]
SECTION X.
V A YE HI MEKETS.
It was at the end of two years, that the remembrance
of Joseph came before the Word of the Lord. And
Pharoh dreamed, and, behold, he stood by the river, and,
behold, from the river came up seven oxen good-looking
and fat-fleshed ; and they grazed in the midst of the
sedges.1 [Jerusalem. Grazing in the midst of the
sedges.1] And, behold, seven other oxen came up from
the river, evil-looking, and lean in their flesh, and stood
by the side of the oxen on the bank of the river. And
1 Gomaya , “ papyri.”
ON GENESIS.
301
XLI.]
the evil-looking and lean-fleshed oxen devoured the
seven good-looking and fat. And Pharoh awoke from
his sleep.
And he slept, and saw a second dream ; and, behold,
seven ears arose on one stalk, full and good; and,
behold, seven ears, thin and blighted with the east
wind, sprang up after them. And the seven thin ears
devoured the seven fat and full. And Pharoh awoke,
and, behold, it was a dream. And in the morning his
spirit was troubled, and he sent and called all the magi¬
cians of Mizraim, and all the wise men; and Pharoh
told them the dreams; but no man was able to inter¬
pret it ; for it was occasioned2 by the Lord, because the
time had come that Joseph should come forth from the
house of the bound.
And the chief of the cup-bearers spake before Pharoh,
saying, My faults do I remember this day. It was
occasioned from the Lord that Pharoh was angry with
his servants, and he put me in wrard in the house of the
chief executioner, me and the chief baker. And we
dreamed a dream in one night, I and he ; each man his
(own) dream, and the interpretation of his companion’s
dream we dreamed. And there was with us a Hebrew
youth, a servant of the chief executioner ; and we re¬
counted to him, and he explained the dream to us, to
each man he explained the interpretation of his dream.
And even as he interpreted to us so it was; me he
restored in his sentence to the order of my service, and
him he hanged.
And Pharoh sent and called Joseph, and hastened
him from the prison ; and he dressed his hair,3 and
changed his garments, and went unto Pharoh. And
Pharoh said to Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and
there is no interpreter for it ; and I have heard of thee,
2 Istakaph. 3 Shaphar, “ totondit.”
302 TARGTJM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
saying, that if thou hear a dream thou canst explain it.
And Joseph answered Pharoh, saying, (It is) without
me ; it is not man who interprets dreams : but from
before the Lord shall be an answer of peace unto
Pharoh.
And Pharoh spake with Joseph, saying, I saw in my
dream, and, behold, I stood on the bank of the river.
And, behold, from the river came up seven oxen, fat-
fleshed and good-looking, and they grazed in the midst
of the sedges. And, behold, seven other oxen came up
after them, wasted, and very evil-looking, and lean in
their flesh. I have not seen the like of them in all the
land of Mizraim for badness. And the wasted and evil
oxen devoured the first seven fat oxen. And they
entered into their stomach, but it could not be known
that they had entered into their stomach, for their
appearance was evil as before ; and I awoke.
And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears arose
on one stalk, full and good; and, behold, seven ears
withered, thin,4 blighted with the east wind, sprang up
after them. And the seven thin ears devoured the seven
good ears. And I told the magicians, but there is no
one w7ho can teach me.
And Joseph said to Pharoh, The dream of Pharoh is
one. That which the Lord is about to do He showeth
to Pharoh. The seven good oxen announce seven
years ; and the seven good ears announce also those
seven years : the dream is one. And the seven wasted
and evil oxen which arose after them announce seven
other years ; and the seven ears thin and blighted with the
east wind likewise make known that there will be seven
years of famine. This is the word that I speak to Pha¬
roh : what the Lord is about to do He showeth Pharoh.
Behold, there come seven years of great plenty in all
4 Or, " stricken.”
ON GENESIS.
303
XLI.]
the land of Mizraim. And after them will arise seven
years of famine, which will make all the plenty that was
in the land of Mizraim to be forgotten ; and the famine
will consume the inhabitants of the land ; neither will
the plenty which had been in the land be known, for
the famine that will be afterward, because it will be
exceeding strong. And forasmuch as the dream was
repeated to Pharoh twice, therefore is the thing con¬
firmed before the Lord, and the Lord hasteneth to
do it.
But now let Pharoh look out a man prudent and
wise, and appoint him over the land of Mizraim. Let
Pharoh make superintendents over the land, and let
them take out one part in five of all the produce of the
land of Mizraim in the seven years of plenty. [Jeru¬
salem. Let Pharoh make and appoint him a superin¬
tendent over the land ; and let him set apart one in five
throughout the land of Mizraim in the seven years of
plenty.] And let them collect all the produce of those
good years that are coming, and gather together the
produce under the hand of Pharoh’ s superintendents,
and set the produce in the cities to be kept ; and there
will be provision laid up (as) in a cavern in the earth,
that therefrom they may take in the years of famine
which come upon the land of Mizraim, that the people
of the land perish not through the famine.
And the word was good before Pharoh, and before
all his servants. And Pharoh said to his servants, Can
we find a man like this, in whom is the spirit of prophecy
from the Lord? And Pharoh said to Joseph, Since
the Lord hath made known all this to thee, there is no
one so prudent and wise as thou art. Thou shalt be
superintendent over my house, and by the decree of thy
mouth shall all my people be armed ; only in the throne
of the kingdom will I be greater than thou. And
304 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
Pharoh said to Joseph, See, I have appointed thee
prince 0 over the land of Mizraim.
And Pharoh took off his ring from his hand, and set
it on Joseph's hand; and he clothed him in vestments
of fine linen, and set a collar of gold upon his neck, and
made him ride in the second chariot of Pharoh ; and
they chanted before him, This is the Pather of the king;
Great in wisdom, few 6 in years. And he appointed him
prince over all the land of Mizraim. [Jerusalem.
And they chanted before him, and said, Live the Pather
of the king. Great in wisdom and few in years.] And
Pharoh said to Joseph, I am Pharoh the king, and thou
art viceregent,7 and without thy word a man shall not
lift up his hand to gird on arms, or his foot to mount a
horse in all the land of Mizraim. And Pharoh called
the name of Joseph, The man who revealeth mysteries.
And he gave him Asenath, whom Dinah had borne to
Shekem, and the wife of Potiphera prince (Rabba) of
Tanis had brought up, to be his wife. And Joseph
went forth ruler over the land of Mizraim. And
Joseph was a son of thirty years when he stood before
Pharoh, king of Mizraim. And Joseph went out from
Pharoh, and passed, a prince and a ruler, through all
the land of Mizraim.
And the earth (so) brought forth, that every blade
made two handsfull in the seven years of plenty, until
all the granaries were full. And they gathered all the
produce of the seven years of plenty which were in the
land of Mizraim, and he laid up the produce in the cities ;
the produce of the fields which were round about a city
he laid up therein.
And to Joseph were born two sons before the year of
famine arose, which Asenath who had been brought up
in the house of Potiphera prince of Tanis bare to him.
5 Sarkan. 8 Or, “tender.” 7 Alkajphta.
ON GENESIS.
305
XLII.]
And Joseph called the name of his first-born Menasheh ;
because. The Lord hath made me forget all my weariness
and all the house of my father. And the name of the
second he called Ephraim ; for he said, The Lord hath
made me mighty in the land of my affliction, as he will
make the house of my father mighty here in their
afflictions.
And the seven years of plenty were completed which
were to come in the land of Mizraim ; and the seven
years of famine began to be, as Joseph had said. And
there was famine in all lands, but in all the land of
Mizraim there was bread. And all the land of Mizraim
had dearth ; because the seed wheat bare no fruit, and
the people cried before Pharoh for bread. And Pharoh
said to all the Mizraee, Go to Joseph, and what he shall
tell you do. And the famine was upon all the face of
the land ; and Joseph opened all the treasures and sold
to the Mizraee. And the famine waxed mighty in the
land of Mizraim ; and all the inhabitants of the earth
came into Mizraim to buy provision of Joseph ; for the
famine was mighty in all the earth.
XLII. And Jakob saw that provisions might be
bought, and that they brought corn from Mizraim ; and
Jakob said to his sons, Why are you afraid to go down
to Mizraim ? And he said, Behold, I have heard that
corn is sold in Mizraim : go down thither and bay for
us from thence, that we may live and not die. And the
ten brothers of Joseph went down to buy corn from
Mizraim. But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jakob sent
not down with his brethren ; for he said. Behold, he is
a youth, and I fear lest death should befall him.
And the sons of Israel went every one by one door,
lest the evil eye should have sway over them, as they went
together to buy among the Kenaanites who went also
to buy ; because the famine was in the land of Kenaan.
306 TAUGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
And Joseph was ruler over the land ; and he knew
that his brethren had come to buy ; for he had appointed
notaries at the gates of the city to register daily, of
every one who came, his name and the name of his
father; and he it was who sold corn to all the people
of the land.
And the brethren of Joseph came. And they looked
through all the streets, and public places, and hospices,
but could not find Him. And they came unto his
house, and worshipped him with their faces to the
ground.
And J osepli saw his brethren, and recognised them ;
but he made himself as a stranger in their eyes, and
spake hard words to them, and said to them, Whence
come you ? And they said, From the land of Kenaan,
to buy corn. Now Joseph recognised his brethren,
because, when separated from them, they had the token
of the beard ; but they did not recognise him, because
(at that time) he had not the token of the beard, and
at this hour he had it. And Joseph remembered the
dreams he had dreamed of them. And he said to them,
You are spies : to see the nakedness of the shame of the
land are you come. And they answered him. No, my
lord, thy servants are come to buy corn : we are all the
sons of one man ; we are true ; thy servants are not
spies. But he said to them, No, but to see the naked¬
ness of the shame of the land are you come. They
answered, Thy servants are twelve brothers, the sons of
one man, in the land of Kenaan; and, behold, the
youngest is to-day with our father, and one went from
us, and we know not what hath been in his end ! And
Joseph said to them, This is what I have spoken to you,
saying. You are spies. By that word you shall be
proved. (By) the life of Pliaroh you shall not go hence
unless your youngest brother be brought hither. Send
ON GENESIS.
307
XLII.]
one of you, and bring your brother ; but you shall be
bound, and your words be proved if the truth is with
you : and if not, (by) the life of Pharoh yon are spies.
And he kept them together in the house of confinement
three days.
And J oseph said to them on the third day, This do,
that you may live ; for I fear the Lord. If you are true,
let one of your brothers be bound in the house of your
confinement ; and go you, carry the corn, that you may
buy for the hunger of your house, and bring your
youngest brother to me, that your words may be verified,
and you may not die. And they did so.
And they said, a man to his brother, In truth we are
guilty concerning our brother, when we saw the distress
of his soul, when he entreated us, and we would not
hearken to him ; therefore hath this affliction come upon
us. And Reuben answered them and said, Did I not
tell you, saying, Do not sin against the youth ? But you
would not listen to me; and thus, behold, his blood is
required of us. But they knew not that Joseph under¬
stood (heard) the holy language ; for Menasheh was
interpreter8 between them. [Jerusalem. But they
knew not that Joseph heard in the holy language ; for
as an interpeter Menasheh stood between them.] And
he withdrew from them and wept, and returned and
spake with them. And from them he took Shimeon,
who had counselled them to kill him, and bound him
before them.
And Joseph commanded his servant to fill their
vehicles with corn, and to return each man's money in
his sack, and to give them provisions for the way.
And he did so for them. And they laid their corn
upon their asses and went thence.
8 Meturgeman.
308 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
Levi, who had been left without Shimeon his com¬
panion, opened his sack to give food to his ass at the
place of lodging, and saw his money : behold, it was in
the mouth of his pannier. And he said to his brothers.
My money is returned, behold, it is in my pannier. And
knowledge failed from their hearts, and each wondered
with his brother, saying, What is this which the Lord
hath done, and not for sin of ours ?
And they came to Jakob their father in the land of
Kenaan, and related to him all that had befallen them,
saying. The man the lord of the land spake with us
harshly, and treated us as spies of the country : but we
said to him. We are faithful men, not spies. We are
twelve brothers, sons of our father ; of one, we know
not what was his end, and the youngest is to-day with
our father in the land of Kenaan. And the man, the
lord of the land said to us. By this I shall know that
you are true. Leave me one of your brothers with me,
and what is needed by the hunger of your houses take,
and go, and bring your youngest brother to me, and I
shall know that you are not spies, but faithful. I will
(then) restore your brother to you, and you shall
transact business in the land.
And it was as they emptied their baggages, behold,
every man's bundle of money was in his baggage ; and
they and their father sawT the bundles of money, and
they were afraid on account of Shimeon whom they had
left there. And Jakob their father said to them, Me
have you bereaved ! Of Joseph you said, An evil beast
hath devoured him ; of Shimeon you have said, The
king of the land hath bound him ; and Benjamin you
seek to take away : upon me is the anguish of all of
them. [Jerusalem. And Jakob their father said to
them. Me have you bereaved of Joseph. From the
hour that I sent him to you I have not known what was
XLTII.] ON GENESIS. 309
his end; and Benjamin yon are seeking to take. Yet
by me are to arise the twelve tribes.] And Reuben
spake to his father, saying, Slay my two sons with a
curse 9 if I do not bring him to thee. Give him into
my hand, and I will restore him to thee. But he said,
My son shall not go down with you ; for his brother is
dead, and he alone remains of his mother ; and if death
should befall him in the way that you go, you will
bring down my age with mourning to the grave. But
the famine was strong in the land. [Jerusalem.
Death.]
XLIII. And it was when they had finished eating
the corn they had brought from Mizraim, their father
said to them, Return and buy us a little corn. And
Jehuda spake to him, saying, The man attesting attested
to us saying, You shall not see the sight of my face unless
your youngest brother be with you. If thou wilt send
our brother with us, we will go down and buy corn for
thee; but if thou wilt not send (him), we will not go
down ; for the man told us, You shall not see the sight
of my face unless your brother be with you.
And Israel said, Why did you do me evil in showing
the man that you had yet a brother ? And they said, The
man demanding demanded (to know) about us, and
about our family, saying, Is your father yet living ?
Have you a brother ? And we informed him according
to the word of these things. Could we know that he
would say. Bring your brother down? And Jehuda
said to Israel his father, Send the youth with me, that
we may arise and go ; and that we may live and not
die, both we, and you, and our little ones. I will be
surety for him : of my hand shalt thou require him.
If I bring him not to thee again, and set him before
thee, the guilt be upon me before thee all days.
9 Be-schamatha.
310 TAEGU M OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
[Jerusalem. I will be afar off from tbe saluta¬
tion of my father all days.] For unless we had thus
delayed, we should already have returned these two
times.
And Israel their father said to them, If it must be so,
do this : Take of the praiseworthy things of the land,
and put them in your vessels, and carry down the man
a present, a little gum 1 and a little honey, wax and
ladanum,2 the oil of nuts, and the oil of almonds, and
money two upon one [J erusalem. Double] take in your
hands, even the money that was returned in the mouth of
your baggage, take back in your hands; perhaps it was
done in error. And take Benjamin your brother, and
arise, return to the man, and God the Almighty give
you mercies before the man, that he may release to you
your other brother, and Benjamin : and I, behold, I am
now certified by the Holy Spirit that if I am bereaved
of Joseph, I shall also be bereaved of Shimeon and of
Benjamin. [Jerusalem. And I, behold, if I be not
bereaved of my son Joseph, so shall I not add to be
bereaved of Shimeon and of Benjamin.]
The men took the present, and the money two for
one in their hands, and they took Benjamin, and went
down to Mizraim, and stood before Joseph. And
Joseph saw Benjamin with them : and he said to
Menasheh whom he had made superintendent over his
house, Bring the men into the house, and unloose the
house of slaughter, and take out the sinew that shrank,
and prepare meat before them ; for the man shall eat
with me at the time of the noon-day meal. And the
man did as Joseph had said, and the man brought the
men into Joseph's house.
1 Seraph Jcetaph, “liquid gum.” Lacliryma arlorum , tire herlarum.
— Pesac., 39, 1. Opobalsamnm. — Josbphus, Ant., 8, 6.
2 Letom , Arab., Ladanon , “ gum of the cistus.”
XLIII.] ON GENESIS. 311
The men feared when they were brought into
Joseph's house, and said, Tor the money that was
returned in our sacks at the first are we brought in,
that he may find occasion against us and condemn us, and
sell us for slaves, and take our asses. And they drew near
the man who had been appointed intendant over Joseph's
house, and spake with him at the gate of the house.
And they said, We entreat you, my lord : we indeed
came down at first to buy corn. But it was when we
had come to our place of lodging, that we opened our
sacks, and, behold, the money of a man was in the mouth
of his sack : but we have brought it back in our hand.
And other money have we brought down in hand to
buy corn. We know not who put the money in our
sacks. And he said, Peace to you; be not afraid of
my lord. Your God and the God of your fathers gave
you treasure in your sacks : your money came to me.
And he brought out Shimeon to them.
The man brought the men into Joseph's house, and
gave them water, and they washed their feet ; and he
gave them provender for their asses. And they made
ready the present against the entrance of Joseph at the
noon- day feast ; for they had heard from him that they
were to eat bread there.
And Joseph entered the house, and they offered to
him the present which was in their hands for the house;
and bowed before him upon the ground. And Joseph
saluted them, and said, Is it well with your father, the
old man of whom you told me P Is he still alive ? They
answered, It is well with thy servant our father; he is
yet alive. And they bowed and made obeisance. And
he lifted up his eyes and saw Benjamin his brother, the
son of his mother, and said, Is this your youngest
brother of whom you told me? And he said, Mercy
from the Lord be upon thee, my son !
312 TAB-GUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
And Joseph made haste, for his compassions were
moved upon his brother, and he sought to weep, and
he went into the chamber [Jerusalem. Into the
chamber] the house of sleep, and wept there. And he
washed [Jerusalem. And he washed] his face from
tears, and came forth, and hastened and said, Set bread.
And they set for him by himself, and for them by
themselves, and for the Mizraee who ate with him by
themselves ; for it was not proper for the Mizraee to
eat bread with the Yehudaee, because the animals
which the Mizraee worshipped the Yehudaee ate. And
they sat around him, the greatest according to his
majority, and the less according to his minority. Tor
he had taken the silver cup in his hand, "and, sounding8
as if divining, he had set in order the sons of Leah on
one side, and the sons of Zilpha on the other side, and
the sons of Bilhah on another side, and Benjamin the
son of Kaliel he ordered by the side of himself. And
the men wondered each at the other. And he sent
portions from his table, and they set them forth from
him before them. But Benjamin's portion was larger
than the portions of any of them ; five portions : one
was his own portion: one portion from himself, one
from his wife, and two portions from his two sons.
And they drank and were drunken with him ; for from
the day when they were separated from him they had
not drunk wine, neither he nor they, until that day.
XLIY. And he commanded Menasheh, whom he
had appointed intendant of his house, saying, Bill the
men's sacks with corn, as much as they can carry, and
put each man's money in the mouth of his bag. And
put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack
of the youngest, and his purchase money. And he did
according to the word which Joseph had spoken.
3 “Tinkling ” or “ringing.”
XLIV.] ON GENESIS. 313
The morning lightened, and the men were sent away,
they and their asses. They had not gone far from the
city, when Joseph said to Menasheh whom he had
appointed the intendant of his house, Arise, follow after
the men, overtake them and say to them. Why have ye
returned evil for good ? Is it not that from which my
lord drinketh, and by which divining he divineth ?
That which you have done is evil. [Jerusalem. By
which divining he divineth.] And he overtook them,
and spake with them all these words.
They said to him, Why does my lord speak words
like these ? Par be it from thy servants to do such a
thing. Behold, the money which we found in the
mouth of our bags we brought to thee again from the
land of Kenaan; how then should we steal from thy
lord's house vessels of silver, or vessels of gold ? With
whomsoever of thy servants it shall be found, let him
be guilty of death, and we also will be slaves of thy
lord. And he said, According to your words let it be.
With whomsoever it is found he shall be my slave, but
you shall be innocent.
And they made haste, and brought down each man
his sack upon the ground, and every man opened his
sack. And he searched, beginning with Beuben, and
ending with Benjamin. And the cup was found in
Benjamin's sack. And they rent their clothes; but
the strength of fortitude was given to them ; and they
laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.
And Jehuda and his brethren entered into Joseph's
house. He was yet there ; and they fell before him on
the ground.
And Joseph said to them. What deed is this that
you have done ? Could you not know that a man like
me divining can divine ? And Jehuda said to him,
What shall we say to my lord concerning the former
p
314 TARGTJM OF PALESTINE [CIIAP.
money, and what concerning the latter money ? and how
shall we be acquitted concerning the cup? From
before the Lord there is sin found upon thy servants.
Behold, we are my lord's servants, and he in whose
hand the chalice hath been found. But he said. Far
be it from me to do thus ; the man in whose hand the
chalice hath been found shall be my slave; but you, go
you up in peace to your father.
SECTION XI.
VAYIGGASH.
And Jehuda came near to him and said, In implor¬
ing my lord, let thy servant, I implore, speak a word
in the hearing of my lord, and let not thy anger grow
strong against thy servant ; for at the hour that we
came to thee thou didst say to us, I fear before the
Lord ; and now thy judgments are rendered like (the
judgments) of a prince of Pharoh. My lord asked his
servants, saying, Have you a father or a brother ?
[Jerusalem. And Jehuda came near him, and said,
In beseeching thee, my lord, let thy servant now speak
a word in the hearing of my lord, and let not thy anger
be strong against thy servant ; for at the first time we
came down to thee into Mizraim didst thou not tell us,
I fear before the Lord ? And now thy judgments are
returned like the judgments of Pharoh thy lord, by
whom thou adjurest. Yet I am honourable as thou
art, and my father is honourable as Pharoh thy lord is,
by whom thou dost adjure. Can I not swear by the
life of the head of my father, and not he ? For if I
XLIV.] ON GENESIS. 315
draw my sword from within its sheath, I would not
return it till I had filled all the land of Mizraim with
the slain ; to its sheath I would not return it, till I
had made all Mizraim desolate of inhabitants, beginning
with thyself, and ending with Pharoh thy lord, were it
not against the will of my father. Or, hath it not
been heard by thee, or not told thee, what my two
brothers Shimeon and Levi did, who went up against
the town of Shekem while they were dwelling in
security, and killed every male by the edge of the
sword, because they had corrupted Dinah our sister,
who hath not been numbered in the tribes, nor hath
portion or inheritance with us in the dividing of the
land ? By how much more then (shall it be done) for
Benjamin our brother, who is numbered with us among
the tribes, and who hath portion and inheritahce with
us in the dividing of the land ? And my force is more
unyielding than theirs, because I have become the
sponsor for the youth at the hands of my father, saying,
If I bring him not to thee, and set him before thee, I
will be guilty with thee and be removed from thy salu¬
tation all the days. Hast thou not heard, or hath it
not been told thee, that in the land of Kenaan we are
kings and princes, as thou art ?
[19. When Joseph, the beloved and honourable, saw
that the strength of Jehuda his brother had risen up,
and that the thoughts of his heart came forth, and that
they rent their garments, in that hour beckoned Joseph
to Menasheh his first-born, and stamped with his shoe ;
and all Joseph's palace trembled. In that hour Jehuda
said, If it had not been on the side of the house of my
father, it would not have been done so. Then began
Jehuda to be milder in his words, and he said, My lord
asked his servants, saying, Have you a father, or a
brother ?]
p 2
316 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
And we told my lord, We have an aged father, and a
son of his old age, a little one, whose brother is dead,
and he only remains of his mother ; and his father on
that account loveth him. And thou saidst to thy
servants, Bring him down to me, and I will set mine
eyes on him for good. [Jerusalem. Mine eyes shall
be gracious upon him.] But we told my lord, The
youth cannot leave his father : for if he leave his father,
he will die. Yet thou saidst to thy servants, If you
bring not your youngest brother down, you shall not
again see my face. And it was when we went up to
thy servant our father, we related to him my lord's
words. And our father said to us, Return, and buy us
a little corn. But we told him, We cannot go down if
our youngest brother be not with us when we go down,
for we shall not be able to see the man's face, unless
our youngest brother be with us. And thy servant our
father said to us, You know that my wife bare me two
sons. One went forth from me, and I said, Surely he
is dead, and I have not beheld him since ; and you will
now take this other from before me ; and if death hap¬
pen to him, you will bring down mine age with mourning
to the house of the grave. Therefore thy servant
became surety for the youth with my father, saying, If
I restore him not to thee, let me be guilty before my
father all the days. And now let thy servant remain, I
beseech thee, as the slave of my lord, instead of the
young man ; and let the young man go up with his
brothers. Por how can I go up to my father, and the
young man be not with us ? — lest I behold the evil that
will strike my father through !
XLY. And Joseph could not endure not to (be able to)
weep, on account of all who stood before him. And he
said, Let every man go out from me: and no one stood with
him, while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.
OX GENESIS.
317
XLV.]
And he lifted up his voice with weeping ; and the
Mizraee heard, and a man of the house of Pharoh
heard.
And Joseph said to his brothers, I am Joseph ! Is
my father yet alive ?
But his brothers could not answer him a word ; for
they were troubled before him.
And Joseph said to his brothers, Come near, I pray,
and examine me. And they came near. And he said
to them, I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold
into Mizraim. Now, therefore, be not grieved, nor
consider it a hard thing 4 that you sold me hither ; for
the Lord sent me hither before you to preserve you.
"For these two years hath the famine been in the midst
of the land, and there are yet five years in which there
will be neither ploughing nor harvest. But the Lord
sent me before you to set you a remnant in the land,
and to preserve you by a great deliverance.
And now, it was not you who sent me hither, but it
was from before the Lord that the thing was occasioned,
that He might set me for a prince unto Pharoh, a chief
over his house, and a ruler in all the land of Mizraim.
Make haste, and go up to my father, and say to him,
Thus saith thy son Joseph, The Lord hath set me for
a chief over all the Mizraee ; come down to me, delay
not, and thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and be
near me, thou, and thy sons, and thy sons' children, thy
sheep, thy oxen, and all that thou hast. And I will
sustain you there, for there are yet five years of famine,
lest thou, and the men of thy house, and all that thou
hast be wasted away. And, behold, your eyes see, and
the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that my mouth
speaketh with you in the language of the house of
holiness. And you must show my father all the honour
4 “ Let it not be hard in your eyes.”
318 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
I have in Mizraim, and all my greatness which you see,
and hasten my father hither.
And he bowed himself upon his brother Benjamin's
neck, and wept ; because it would be that the house of
holiness should be builded in the portion of Benjamin,
and be twice destroyed : and Benjamin wept upon
Joseph's neck, because he saw that the tabernacle of
Shiloh would be in the portion of Joseph and be
destroyed. And he kissed all his brethren, and wept
over them, because he saw that the sons of his people
would be brought into bondage. And afterward his
brethren discoursed with him.
And a voice was heard in the royal house of Pharoh,
saying, The brothers of Joseph are come. And the
thing was pleasing in the eyes of Pharoh, and in the
eyes of his servants. And he said to Joseph, Tell thy
brethren, Do this. Lade your beasts, and go, carry
into the land of Kenaan ; and take your father and the
men of your house, and come to me, and I will give
you the best of what is desirable in the land of Miz-
raim, and you shall eat the fat of the land. And thou
Joseph shalt appoint for the honour of thy father:
therefore tell thy brethren, Do this. Take with you
from the land of Mizraim waggons drawn by oxen, in
which to carry your children and your wives, and bring
your father, and come. And your eyes must not look
wistfully on your utensils : for the best of what is desir¬
able in all the land of Mizraim is yours.
And the sons of Israel did so. And Joseph gave
them waggons according to the word of Pharoh, and he
furnished them with provision for the way. And to
each of them he gave vestments and apparel ; but to
Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver, and
five vestments for apparel. And these presents he sent
to his father ; ten asses laden with wine and the good
XLVI.] ON GENESIS. 319
things of Mizraim, and ten she asses laden with corn,
and bread, and provisions for his father's journey. And
he dismissed his brothers to go, and said to them, Do
not contend about my having been sold, lest you quarrel
in passing along the way.
And they went up from Mizraim, and came to the
land of Kenaan unto Jakob their father. And they
declared to him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and is ruler
over all the land of Mizraim. But his heart was
divided, because he did not believe them. [Jerusalem.
And his heart was divided.] And they told him all the
words of Joseph which he had spoken to them. And
when he saw the waggons which Joseph had sent to
bring him, the Spirit of Prophecy which had gone up
from him at the time that Joseph was sold, returning,
rested upon Jakob their father. And Israel said. Many
benefits hath the Lord wrought for me ; He delivered
me from the hand of Esau and from the hand of Laban,
and from the hands of the Kenaanites who pursued me ;
and many consolations have I seen and have expected to
see; but this I had not expected, that Joseph my son
should yet be alive. I will go now, and behold him
before I die. [Jerusalem. And Israel said. Many
benefits and consolations I had hoped to see ; but this I
had not expected, that, behold, Joseph my son should
be yet alive. I will go and see him before I die.]
XLYI. And Israel journeyed with all that he had,
and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God
of his father Izhak. And the Lord spake to Israel in a
prophecy of the night, and said, Jakob! and he said,
Behold me. And He said, I am God, the God of thy
father ; fear not to go down into Mizraim on account of
the servitude I have decreed with Abraham : for a great
people will I make thee there. I am He who in My
Word will go down with thee into Mizraim; I will
320 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
regard the affliction of thy children, and My Word shall
bring thee up from thence, and cause thy children to
come up; but Joseph shall lay his hand upon thine
eyes.
And Jakob arose from Beer de Sheba; and the sons
of Israel journeyed, with J akob their father, their little
ones, and their wives, in the waggons which Pharoh
had sent to carry him. They took their possessions
and the substance which they had gotten in the land of
Kenaan, and came into Mizraim, Jakob and all his sons
with him, his sons and his sons' children with him, his
daughters, and the daughters of his sons ; and all his
seed came with him to Mizraim.
These are the names of the sons of Israel who came
into Mizraim. Jakob and his sons. The firstborn of
Jakob, Reuben. And the sons of Reuben, Hanok and
Phallu, Pletsron and Karmi. The sons of Shimeon,
Jemuel and Jamin, Ochad, Jakin, Sochar, and Shaul :
he is Zimri, who made the work of the Kenaanites in
Shittim. And the sons of Levi, Gershon, Kehath, and
Merari. The sons of Jehuda, Er, Onan, Shelah,
Pherets, and Zarach. But Er and Onan died, on
account of their evil work in the land of Kenaan ; and
Shelah and Zarach had no children in the land of
Kenaan ; but the sons of Pherets who went down to
Mizraim were Hetsron and Chamul. The sons of
Issakar, sages, and masters of reasoning, their names
were Tola, Phua, Job, and Shimron. The sons of Zebu-
Ion, merchants, masters of commerce nourishing their
brethren, the sons of Issakar, and receiving a reward
like theirs; and their names were Sered, Elon, and
Jahleel. These are the sons of Leah, whom she bare
unto Jakob in Padan Aram, with Dinah his daughter;
all the souls of his sons and his daughter, thirty and
three. And the children of Gad, Seplion, Haggi, Suni,
XLVI.] ON GENESIS. r $21
Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. The children of Asher,
Yimna, Yishvah, Yishvi, Beriah, and Serach their sister,
who was carried away while alive into the Garden (of
Eden), because she had announced to Jakob that Joseph
still lived. It was she who saved the inhabitants of
(the city) Abel from the judgment of death, in the days
of Joab. The sons of Beriah who went down into
Mizraim were Heber and Malkiel. These are the
children of Zilpha, whom Laban gave to Leah his
daughter, and she bare them to Jakob; sixteen souls.
The sons of Rahel, wife of Jakob, Joseph and Benjamin.
And to Joseph were born two sons in the land of
Mizraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Dinah, edu¬
cated in the house of Potiphera prince of Tanis, bare, —
Menasheh and Ephraim. The sons of Benjamin, ten ;
and their names, according to the interpretation of
Joseph his brother : Bela,5 who was swallowed up
from him ; Beker, who was the chosen of his mother ;
Eshbal, who went into captivity ; Gera, who became a
sojourner in a foreign land ; Naaman, who was pleasant
and honourable ; Achi, who had a (twin) brother, the
son of his mother; Rosh, who was a chief in his father’s
house; Muppim, who was sold into Muph ; Chuppim,
because at the time that he was separated from him he
was the son of eighteen years and was eligible for .
marriage ( Chupha , thalamus nuptialis') ; andAred, who
descended into Mizraim. These are the children of
Rahel who were born unto Jakob, all the souls fourteen.
The sons of Dan, able men (or armed) and merchants,
of whose numbers there is no end (or sum). And the
sons of Naphtali, Jakzeel, Guni, Jetser, and Shillem.
These are the sons of Bilhah whom Laban gave to
Rahel his daughter; and she bare them unto Jakob, all
the souls seven. All the souls which went into
5 The roots of these names have the meanings here assigned.
p 5
522 TAR GUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
Mizraim with Jakob which had come forth from his
thigh ; besides the wives of Jakob's sons, all the souh
were sixty and six. But the sons of Joseph who were
born to him in Mizraim, were two souls ; and Joseph
who was in Mizraim, and Jokebed the daughter of Levi,
who w’as born among the hills in their journey to
Mizraim, — the sum of all the souls of the house of
Jakob who came into Mizraim, seventy.
And he sent Jehnda before him to Joseph to indicate
the way before him, to subdue the pillars of the earth,
and to provide him a house of dwelling in Goshena.
And they came to the land of Goshen. [Jerusalem.
To prepare him a place of habitation in Goshena.]
And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to
meet Israel his father in Goshen ; and his father, before
he recognised him, worshipped him, and thus became
liable to be shortened (or cut off) in his years. And he
wondered, and beheld him, and fell upon his neck, and
wept still upon his neck, because he had worshipped
him. And Israel said to Joseph, If at this time I die,
I am comforted : for with the death that the righteous
die shall I die, after seeing thy face, because thou art
yet alive.
And Joseph said to his brethren and his father's
house, I will go up and tell Pharoh, and say to him, My
brethren and my father's house from the land of Kenaan
have come to me. The men are pastors of sheep ; for
they are men, the masters of flocks ; and their sheep and
oxen and all which they have, they have brought. And
it must be, when Pharoh calleth you, and saith, Tell me,
what is your work ? you must say, Thy servants have
been masters of flocks from our youth until now : that
you may dwell in the land of Goshen; because the
Mizraee reject 6 all shepherds.
6 Or, “ keep at a distance from.”
XLVII.] ON GENESIS. 323
XLYII. And Joseph came and informed Pharoh,
and said, My father and my brethren, with their sheep
and oxen and all that they have, are come from the land
of Kenaan, and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen.
And from the extreme of his brethren he took five men,
Zebulon, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher, and presented
them before Pharoh. And Pharoh said to Josephus
brethren, What is your work ? And they said to Pharoh,
Thy servants are pastors of sheep, both we and our
fathers. And they said to Pharoh, To dwell in the land
are we come, because there is no place of pasture for
thy servants' sheep, for the famine hath prevailed in the
land of Kenaan ; let thy servants therefore now dwell
in the land of Goshen.
And Pharoh spake to Joseph, saying, Thy father and
thy brethren have come to thee. The land of Mizraim
is before thee. In the fairest part of the land make
thy father and thy brethren to dwell : let them dwell in
the land of Goshen. And if thou know any among
them men of ability, appoint them masters over my
flocks.
And Joseph brought Jakob his father, and presented
him before Pharoh. And Jakob blessed Pharoh, and
said, May it please the Almighty that the waters of
Kilos may be replenished, and may the famine pass
away from the world in thy days ! And Pharoh said to
Jakob, How many are the days of the years of thy life ?
And Jakob answered Pharoh, The days of the years of
my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years. Pew
and evil have been the days of the years of my life ; for
in my youth I fled before Esau my brother, and so¬
journed in a land not my own ; and now in the time
of my old age have I come down to sojourn here. And
my days have not reached the days of the years of the
life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage. And
324 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
Jakob blessed Pharoh, and went out from before
Pliarob.
And Joseph brought his father and brethren to dwell,
and gave them a possession in the land of Mizraim, in a
goodly part of the country, in the country of Pilusin, as
Pharoh had commanded. [Jerusalem. Pelusim.] And
Joseph sustained his father and his brethren and all his
father’s house with bread, according to the need of their
families. But there was no bread (grown) in all the
land, because the famine prevailed greatly, and the
inhabitants of the land of Mizraim failed, and the
dwellers in the land of Kenaan, in presence of the famine.
And Joseph collected all the money which was found
in the land of Mizraim, and in the land of Kenaan, for
the corn which he sold to them ; and Joseph brought
the money into the treasure-house of Pharoh. And the
money was finished from the land of Mizraim, and from
the land of Kenaan; and the Mizraee came to Joseph,
saying, Give us bread ; why should we die before thee ?
for all our money is finished. [Jerusalem. And hath
failed.] And Joseph said, Give your flocks, and for
your flocks I will give you provisions, if the money be
consumed. And they brought their cattle to Joseph,
and Joseph gave them bread for their horses, and for
the flocks of sheep, the oxen, and the asses; and he
sustained them with bread for all their flocks for that
year. And that year being ended, all the Mizraee came
to him, in the second year, and said to him, We will
not hide it from my lord, that the money is finished, and
my lord hath the flocks of cattle : there is nothing left
us before my lord except our bodies, and our land. Why
should we die, and thine eye seeing (it), both we and
our land also ? Buy us, and our land, for bread, and
we and our land will be servants of Pharoh, and give
the seed of corn, that we may live and not die, and the
XLVII.] ON GENESIS. 325
land be not desolated. And Joseph bought all the land
of Mizraim for Pharoh ; for the Mizraee sold every man
his portion, because the famine prevailed over them,
and the land became the property of Pharoh. And the
people of a province he removed to a city, and the
people of the city he removed to a province, for the
sake of the brethren of Joseph, that they might not be
called wanderers : therefore he made them migrate from
one end of Mizraim to the other. [Jerusalem. And
the people who were dwelling in the province he
removed into the city ; and the people who dwelt in the
city he removed into the province, that they might not
deride the sons of Jakob, and call them Galilean
(wandering) guests.] Only the land of the priests he
bought not, because they had considered him innocent
at the time when his master was seeking to put him to
death, and they had delivered him from the judgment
of death : and besides he had said that a portion should
be given them from Pharoh. So they ate the portion
which Pharoh gave them, and sold not their land.
And Joseph said to the people, Behold, I have this
day bought you and your land for Pharoh : behold, (I
give) you seed corn to sow the land ; and at the time of
the ingathering of your produce you shall give the fifth
part to Pharoh, and four parts shall be yours, for the
seeding of your land, and for food and for provision for
your houses and little ones. And they said, Thou hast
preserved us : let us find favour in the eyes of my lord,
and we will be PharolPs servants. And Joseph
established it a law unto this day over the land of
Mizraim to take to Pharoh a fifth part of the produce,
except only the land of the priests which was not
PharolPs.
And Israel dwelt in the land of Mizraim, and they
built there schools and mansions in the land of Goshen,
326 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
and inherited therein fields and vineyards ; and they
increased and multiplied greatly.
SECTION XII.
VAYECHI.
And Jakob lived in the land of Mizraim seventeen
years. And the sum of the days of Jakob, of the days
of his life, was a hundred and forty and seven years.
And the days of Israel drew near to die. And he
called to his son, to Joseph, and said to him, If now I
have found favour before thee, put thy hand on the
place of my circumcision, and deal with me in goodness
and truth, That thou wilt not bury me in Mizraim, that I
may sleep with my fathers, and thou mayest carry me
from Mizraim, and bury me in their sepulchre. But
because he was his son he did not (so) put his hand ; but
said, I will do according to thy word. And he said, Swear
to me: and he sware to him. And immediately the
Glory of the Shekina of the Lord was revealed to him,
and Israel worshipped upon the pillow7 of the bed.
[ J ertjsalem. And Israel praised upon the head of the
couch.]
XLVIII. And after these things it was told Joseph,
Behold, thy father is lying ill. And he took his two
sons with him, Menasheh and Ephraim. And it was
announced to Jakob, saying, Behold, thy son Joseph hath
come to thee : and Israel strengthened himself, and sat
upon the bed.
7 Or, “hea<L!
xlviii.] on genesis. 327
And Jakob said to Joseph : El Shadai revealed Him¬
self to me at Luz, in the land of Kenaan, and blessed
me. And He said to me, Behold, I will increase thee
and multiply thee, and make thee an assemblage of
tribes, and will give this land to thy sons after thee
for an everlasting inheritance. And now, thy two sons
who have been born to thee in the land of Mizraim
before I came to thee into Mizraim are mine ; Ephraim
and Menasheh as Reuben and Shimeon shall be
reckoned unto me. And thy children whom thou
mayest beget after them shall be thine ; by the name
of their brethren shall they be called in their inheritance.
And I beseech thee to bury me with my fathers. Rahel
died by me suddenly in the land of Kenaan, while there
was yet much ground to come to Ephrath; nor could I
carry her to bury her in the Double Cave, but I buried
her there, in the way of Ephrath which is Bethlechem.
And Israel looked at the sons of Joseph and said,
Erom whom are these born to thee ? And Joseph
answered his father, They are my sons which the Word
of the Lord gave me according to this writing, according
to which I took Asenath the daughter of Dinah thy
daughter to be my wife.
And he said, Bring them now near to me, and I will
bless them. But Israel's eyes were heavy from age,
and he could not see. And he brought them to him,
and he kissed them and embraced them. And Israel
said to J oseph, To see thy face I had not reckoned, but,
behold, the Lord hath also showed me thy sons. And
Joseph brought them out from (between) his knees, and
worshipped on his face upon the ground. And Joseph
took both of them, Ephraim on his right side, which was
Israel's left, and Menasheh on his left side, which was
Israel's right, and brought them to him.
And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it
328 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
upon the head of Ephraim, though he was the
younger ; and his left hand upon the head of Menasheh,
altering his hands, for Menasheh was the firstborn.
[Jerusalem. He altered his hands.] And he blessed
Joseph, and said :
The Lord, before whom my fathers, Abraham and
Izhak, did serve ; the Lord who hath fed me since I
have been unto this day, be pleased that the angel
whom thou didst ordain for me, to redeem me from all
evil, may bless the children ; and let my name be
called upon them, and the names of my fathers Abra¬
ham and Izhak. And as the fishes of the sea in
multiplying are multiplied in the sea, so may the chil¬
dren of Joseph be multiplied abundantly in the midst
of the earth.
And Joseph saw that his father placed his right hand
upon Ephraim's head ; and it was evil before him, and
he uplifted his father's hand to remove it from off the
head of Ephraim, that it might rest on the head of
Menasheh. And Joseph said to his father, Not so,
my father, for this is the firstborn ; lay thy right hand
on his head. But his father was not willing, and said,
I know, my son, I know that he is the firstborn, and
also that he will be a great people, and will also be
multiplied ; yet will his younger brother be greater
than he, and his sons be greater among the nations.
And he blessed them in that day, saying, In thee,
Joseph my son, shall the house of Israel bless their
infants in the day of their circumcision, saying, The
Lord set thee as Ephraim and as Menasheh. And in
the numbering of the tribes the prince of Ephraim shall
be numbered before the prince of Menasheh. And he
appointed that Ephraim should be before Menasheh.
And Israel said to Joseph, Behold, my end cometh
to die. But the Word of the Lord shall- be your
ON GENESIS.
329
XLIX.]
Helper, and restore you to the land of your fathers ;
and I, behold, I have given to thee the city of Shekem,
one portion for a gift above thy brethren, which I took
from the hand of the Amoraee at the time that you
went into the midst of it, and I arose and helped you
with my sword and with my bow. [ Jehus alem. And
I, behold, I have given thee one portion above thy
brethren, the robe of the first Adam. Abraham the
father of my father took it from the hands of Nimrod
the Wicked, and gave it to Izhak my father ; and
Izhak my father gave it to Esau, and I took it from
the hands of Esau my brother, not with my sword nor
with my bow, but through my righteousness and my
good works.]
XLIX. And Jakob called his sons and said to them.
Purify yourselves from uncleanness, and I will show
you the hidden mysteries, the ends concealed, the
recompense of reward for the righteous, the retribution
of the wicked, and the bower of Eden, what it is. And
the twelve tribes of Israel gathered themselves together
around the golden bed whereon he reclined, and where
was revealed to him the Shekina of the Lord, (though)
the end for which the king Meshiha is to come had
been concealed from him. Then said he, Come, and I
will declare to you what shall befall you at the end of
the days. Gather yourselves together and hear, ye sons
of Jakob, and receive instruction from Israel your
father.
Reuben, thou art my firstborn, the beginning of the
strength of my generation, and the chief event of my
thoughts. To thee belonged the birthright, and the
high priesthood, and the kingdom : but because thou
hast sinned, my son, the birthright is given to Joseph,
and the kingdom to Jehuda, and the priesthood to
Levi. I will liken thee to a little garden in the midst
330 TAKGUM OP PALESTINE [CHAP.
of which there enter torrents swift and strong, which it
cannot bear, but is overwhelmed. Be repentant then,
Beuben my son, for thou hast sinned, and add not ;
that wherein thou hast sinned it may be forgiven thee ;
for it is reckoned to thee as if thou wentest in to have
to do with the wife of thy father at the time that thou
didst confound my bed upon which thou wentest up.
Shimeon and Levi are brothers of the womb ; 8
their thoughts are of sharp weapons for rapine. In
their counsel my soul hath not had pleasure, and in
their gathering against Shekem to destroy it mine
honour was not united ; for in their anger they slew
the prince and his ruler, and in their ill will they
demolished the wall9 of their adversary. And Jakob
said, Accursed was the town of Shekem when they
entered within it to destroy it in their violent wrath ;
and their hatred against Joseph, for it was relentless.
If, said Jakob, they dwell together, no king nor ruler
may stand before them. Therefore will I divide the
inheritance of the sons of Shimeon into two portions ;
one part shall come to them out of the inheritance of
the sons of Jehuda, and one part from among the rest
of the tribes of Jakob; and the tribe of Levi I will
disperse among all the tribes of Israel.
Jehuda, thou didst make confession in the matter of
Tamar : therefore shall thy brethren confess 1 thee, and
shall be called Jeliudain from thy name. Thy hand
shall avenge thee of thy adversaries, in throwing arrows
upon them when they turn their backs before thee ; and
the sons of thy fathers shall come before thee with
salutations. I will liken thee, my son Jehuda, to a
whelp, the young of a lion ; for from the killing of
Joseph my son thou didst uplift thy soul, and from
8 Acldn telamin, “f rat res uterini.” — Caste L, 3903.
9 Or, “ destroyed the oxen.” 1 Or, “ praise.”
ON GENESIS.
331
XLIX.]
the judgment of Tamar thou wast free. He dwelleth
quietly and in strength, as a lion ; and as an old lion
when he reposeth, who may stir him up ? Kings shall
not cease, nor rulers, from the house of Jehuda, nor
sapherim teaching the law from his seed, till the time
that the King, the Meshiha, shall come, the youngest of
his sons ; and on account of him shall the peoples flow
together. How beauteous is the King, the Meshiha
who will arise from the house of Jehuda ! He hath
girded his loins, and descended, and arrayed the battle
against his adversaries, slaying kings with their rulers ;
neither is there any king or ruler who shall stand
before him. The mountains become red with the blood
of their slain ; his garments, dipped in blood, are like the
outpressed juice of grapes. How beautiful are the eyes
of the king Meshiha, as the pure wine ! He cannot look
upon what is unclean, nor on the shedding of the blood
of the innocent ; and his teeth, purer than milk, cannot
eat that which is stolen or torn; and therefore his
mountains are red with wine, and his hills white with
corn, and with the cotes of flocks.
Zebulon shall dwell upon the banks of the sea, and
have dominion over the havens ; he will surmount the
breakers of the sea with ships, and his border will
extend unto Zidon.
Issakar is an ass in the law ; a strong tribe, knowing
the order 3 of the times ; and he lieth down between
the limits of his brethren. And he saw the rest of the
world to come thatjt is good, and the portion of the
land of Israel that it is pleasant; therefore bowed he
his shoulders to labour in the law, and unto him shall
come his brethren bearing presents.
Prom the house of Dan there is to arise a man who
will judge his people with the judgment of truth. All
2 Or, “intention.”
332 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
the tribes of Israel will hearken to him together. A
chosen man shall arise from the house of Dan, like the
basilisk which lieth at the dividing of the way, and the
serpent's head which lurketh by the way, that biteth
the horse in his heel, and the master from his terror
is thrown backward. Even thus will Shimshon bar
Manovach slay all the heroes of Philistia, the horsemen
and the foot ; he will hamstring their horses and hurl
their riders backwards.
When Jakob saw Gideon bar Joash and Shimshon
bar Manovach, who were established to be deliverers, he
said, I expect not the salvation of Gideon, nor look I
for the salvation of Shimshon ; for their salvation will
be the salvation of an hour ; but for Thy salvation have
I waited, and will look for, 0 Lord ; for Thy salvation
is the salvation of eternity.
The tribe of Gad with the rest of the tribes will,
armed, pass over the streams of Arnona, and subdue
before them the pillars of the earth, and armed will they
return into their limits with much substance, and dwell
in peace beyond the passage of Jardena; for so will
they choose, and it shall be to them to receive their
inheritance.
Happy is Asher, whose fruitage is plenteous, and
wThose land aboundeth in balsams and costly perfumes.
Naphtali is a swift messenger, like a hind that run¬
neth on the tops of the mountains, bringing good
tidings : he it was who announced that Joseph was
living ; he it was who hasteneth to go into Mizraim, and
bring the contract of the double field in which Esau
had no portion ; 3 and when he shall open his mouth in
the congregation of Israel to give praise, he shall be the
chosen of all tongues.
Joseph, my son, thou hast become great ; Joseph, my
’ See the next chapter.
ON GENESIS.
333
XL1X.]
son, thou hast become great and mighty; the end
(determined) on thee was (that thou shouldst) be
mighty, because thou didst subdue thy inclination in
the matter of thy mistress, and in the work of thy
brethren. Thee will I liken to a vine planted by foun¬
tains of water, wrhich sendeth forth her roots, and over-
runneth the ridges of stone, and covereth by her
branches all unfruitful trees ; even so didst thou my son
Joseph subject by thy wisdom and thy good works all
the magicians of Mizraim; and when, celebrating thy
praises, the daughters of princes walking on the high
places cast before thee bracelets and chains of gold,
that thou shouldst lift up thine eyes upon them, thine
eyes thou wouldst not lift up on one of them, to become
guilty in the great day of judgment. And all the magi¬
cians of Mizraim were bitter and angry against him, and
brought accusations against him before Pharoh, expect¬
ing to bring him down from his honour. They spake
against him with the slanderous tongue 4 which is severe
as arrows. But he returned to abide in his early
strength, and would not yield himself unto sin, and
subdued his inclinations by the strong discipline he had
received from Jakob, and thence became worthy of
being a ruler, and of being joined in the engraving of
the names upon the stones of Israel. From the Word
of the Lord shall be thy help ; and He who is called the
All-Sufficient shall bless thee with the blessings which
descend with the dew of heaven from above, and with
the good blessing of the fountains of the deep which
ascend and clothe the herbage from beneath. The
breasts are blessed at which thou wast suckled, and the
womb in which thou didst lie. The blessings of thy
father be added to the blessings wherewith my fathers
4 “ With triple tongue.” Compare the Targum on Psalm ci. 5 ;
Psalm cxl. 11 ; Eccles. x. 11 ; and our Introduction, p. 12.
334 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
Abraham and Izhak have blessed me, and which the
princes of the world Ishmael and Esau and all the sons
of Keturah have desired : — let all these blessings be
united, and form a diadem of majesty for the head of
Joseph, and for the brow of the man who became chief
and ruler in Mizraim, and the brightness of the glory of
his brethren.
Benjamin is a strong tribe, (like) the wolf (with) his
prey. In his land will dwell the Shekina of the Lord
of the world, and the house of the sanctuary be builded
in his inheritance. In the morning will the priests offer
the lamb continually until the fourth hour, and between
the evenings the second lamb, and at eventide will they
divide the residue remaining of the offering, and eat,
every man, his portion.
[Jerusalem Targum. And our father Jakob called
his sons, and said to them, Gather together, and I will
teach you the concealed end, the secret mysteries, the
recompense of reward for the just, and the punishmeut
of the wicked, and the blessedness of Eden, what it is.
And the twelve tribes of Jakob assembled and sur¬
rounded the golden bed whereon our father Jakob lay,
desiring that he should teach them (at the) end in
benediction and consolation. Then was revealed to him
the secret that had been hidden from him, and then was
opened the door which had been shut to him. Our
father Jakob turned therefore and blessed his sons, every
man according to his good did he bless him.
[When the twelve tribes of J akob were assembled, and
surrounded the golden bed whereon our father Jakob
lay, they expected that lie would make known to them
the order of blessing and consolation : but they were
hidden from him. Our father Jakob answered and said
to them : From Abraham my father's father arose the
profane Ishmael and all the sons of Keturah ; and from
XLIX.
ON GENESIS.
335
Izhak my father arose the profane Esau, my brother ;
and I am afraid lest there should be among you a man
whose heart is separated from his brethren to go and
worship before strange idols. The twelve tribes of
J akob answered all together, and said, Hear us, Israel
OUR RATHER ! The LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD !
And Jakob our father answered, and said, May His
Great Name be blessed for ever and ever !
[Keuben, my firstborn art thou, my strength, and the
beginning of my sorrow. To thee my son Reuben
would it have pertained to receive three portions above
thy brethren, birthright, priesthood, kingdom : but
because thou hast sinned, Reuben, my son, the birth¬
right is given unto Joseph, the kingdom to Jehuda, and
the high priesthood to the tribe of Levi. I will liken
thee, my son Reuben, to a little garden into the midst of
which there enter rapid torrents, which it cannot bear,
but is carried away before them. Be repentant then,
my son Reuben, with good works, for thou hast sinned ;
and sin no more, that that which thou hast sinned may
be forgiven thee.
[5. Siiimeon and Levi are brothers of the womb,
men who are masters of sharp weapons ; they made war
from their youth ; in the land of their adversary they
wrought out the triumphs of war. In their counsels
my soul found no pleasure ; and in their gathering
together at the city of Shekem to destroy it, they were
not favourable to my honour ; for in their anger they
slew kings with princes, and in their wilfulness they sold
Joseph their brother, who is compared to the ox.
Accursed was the town of Shekem when Shimeon and
Levi entered to destroy it in their wrath, for it was
strong, and in their anger, for it was cruel. And Jakob
our father said, If these remain together, no people or
kingdom can stand before them. I will divide the tribe
336 TAB-GUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
of Shimeon, that they may become preachers and teachers
of the law in the congregation of Jakob ; and I will
disperse the tribe of Levi in the houses of instruction
for the sons of Israel.
[8. Jehuda, thee shall all thy brethren praise, and
from thy name shall all be called Jehudaee; thy hand
shall avenge thee of thy adversaries ; all the sons of thy
father shall come before thee with salutation. I will
liken thee, my son Jehuda, to a whelp the son of a lion :
from the slaying of Joseph thou wast free, from the
judgment of Tamar thou, my son, wast acquitted. He
remaineth tranquil in the midst of war, as the lion and
as the lioness ; nor is there people or kingdom that can
stand against thee. Kings shall not cease from the
house of Jehuda, nor sapherim teaching the law from
his children's children, until the time that the King
Meshiha shall come, whose is the kingdom, and to whom
all the kingdoms of the earth shall be obedient. How
beauteous is the King Meshiha, who is to arise from the
house of Jehuda !
[Binding his loins, and going forth to war against
them that hate him, he will slay kings with princes,
and make the rivers red with the blood of their slain,
and his hills white with the fat of their mighty ones ;
his garments will be dipped in blood, and he himself be
like the juice of the winepress. More beautiful are the
eyes of the king Meshiha to behold than pure wine ;
they will not look upon that which is unclean, or the
shedding of the blood of the innocent. His teeth are
employed according to the precept rather than in eating
the things of violence and rapine; his mountains shall
be red with vines, and his presses with his wine, and
his hills be white with much corn and with flocks of
sheep.
[14. Issakar is a strong tribe, and his limits shall be
XLIX.] ON GENESIS. 337
in the midst between two boundaries. And he saw the
house of the sanctuary, which is called Quietness,5 that
it is good, and the land that its fruits are rich ; and
bared his shoulders to labour in the law, and to him
shall be all his brethren bringing tribute.
[17. (Of Dan) He will be the deliverer who is to
arise, strong will he be and elevated above all kingdoms.
And he will be like the serpent that lieth in the way,
and the basilisk which lurketh at the dividing of the
road, which striketh the horse in his heel, and thinketh
by the terror of him to throw his rider backward. He
is Shimshon bar Manovach, who will be a terror upon
his adversaries, and a fear upon them that hate him,
and who will slay kings with princes. Our father Jakob
said, My soul hath not waited for the redemption of
Gideon bar Joash which is for an hour, nor for the
redemption of Shimshon which is a creature redemption,
but for the Redemption which Thou hast said in Thy
Word shall come for Thy people the sons of Israel, for
this Thy Redemption my soul hath waited.
[19. From the house of Gad will go forth hosts
arrayed in arms. They will bring Israel over Jardena ;
put them in possession of the land of Kenaan, and after¬
wards return in peace to their tabernacles.
[Of happy Asher, how fertile is the land ! His land
shall satisfy with dainties the kings of the sons of
Israel.
[Naphtali is a swift messenger declaring good tidings.
He first declared to our father Jakob that Joseph was
yet in life, and he went down to Mizraim in a little time,
and brought the contract of the Double Field from the
palace of J oseph. And when he openeth his mouth in the
congregation of Jakob, his tongue is sweet as honey.
[22. My son who hast become great, Joseph, my son,
8 Menucha.
Q
338 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
who hast become great, and waxed mighty, that thou
wouldst become mighty was foreseen. Thee, Joseph, my
son, will I liken to a vine planted by fountains of water,
which sendeth her roots into the depth and striketh
the ridges of the rocks, uplifting herself on high and
surmounting all the trees. So hast thou, O Joseph my
son, risen by thy wisdom above all the magicians of
Mizraim, and all the wise men who were there, what
time thou didst ride in the second chariot of Pharoh,
and they proclaimed before thee and said, This is the
father of the king, Long live the father of the king.
Great in wisdom, though few in years. And the
daughters of kings and of princes danced before thee at
the windows, and beheld thee from the balconies, and
scattered before thee bracelets, rings, collars, necklaces,
and all ornaments of gold, in hope thou wouldst uplift
thine eyes and regard one of them. But thou my son
Joseph wast far from lifting thine eyes on any one of
them, though the daughters of kings and of princes
spake one to another, This is the holy man Joseph,
who walks not after the sight of his eyes nor after the
imagination of his heart; because the sight of the eyes
and the imagination of his heart make the son of woman
to perish from the world. Therefore will arise from thee
the two tribes Menasheh and Ephraim, who shall receive
portion and inheritance with their brethren in the dividing
of the land. The magicians of Mizraim and all the wise
men spake against him, but could not prevail over him ;
they spake evil of him before his lord, they accused him
before Pharoh king of Mizraim, to bring him down from
his dignity ; they spake against him in the palace of
Pharoh with a slanderous tongue severe as arrows. But
the strength of his confidence6 remained in both his
6 Or, “fidelity.”
XLIX.] ON GENESIS. 339
hands and his arms, and he sought mercy from the
strength of his father Jakob, under the arms of whose
power the tribes of Israel are led, and do come. Blessed
are the breasts that suckled thee, and the womb in which
thou didst lie. The blessing of thy father be added
upon thee, upon the blessings wherewith thy fathers
Abraham and Izhak who are like mountains blessed thee,
and upon the blessing of the four mothers, Sarah,
Rivekah, Rahel, and Leah, who are like hills ; let all
these blessings come, and make a diadem of majesty
upon the head of Joseph, and upon the crown of the
man who became a chief and ruler in the land of Mizraim,
and the brightness of the glory of his brethren.
[17. (Of Benjamin) I will liken him to a ravening
wolf. In his limits will the sanctuary be builded, and
in his inheritance the glory of the Shekina of the Lord
will dwell. In the morning will the priests offer the
continual lamb and its oblations, and at the going
down of the sun will the priests offer the continual
lamb and its oblations, and at evening divide the offerings
of the sons of Israel.]
All these Tribes of Israel are twelve : they are all
righteous together, and this it is which their father
spake to them, and blessed them; according to his
blessing blessed he each man. And he commanded
them and said to them, I am to be gathered to my
people ; bury me with my fathers in the cavern which
is in the field of Ephron the Hitah, in the cave that is
in the Double Field over against Mamre in the land of
Kenaan ; for Abraham bought the field of Ephron the
Hitah for an inheritance of burial. There they buried
Abraham, and Sarah his wife; there they buried Izhak,
and Rivekah his wife ; and there I buried Leah : — the
purchase of the field, and the cave that is in it, of the
sons of Hitah.
Q ^
340 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
And Jakob ceased to command his sons. And he
gathered up his feet into the midst of the bed, and
expired, and was gathered unto his people.
L. And Joseph laid his father upon a couch of ivory
which was framed with pure gold, and inlaid with
precious stones, and secured with cords of byssus.
There they poured out fervid wines, and there burned
they most costly perfumes : there stood the chiefs
of the house of Esau and the chiefs of the house
of Ishmael; there stood the Lion of Jehuda, the
strength of his brethren. lie answered and said to his
brethren, Come, and let us raise up to our father a tall
cedar whose head shall reach to the top of heaven, and its
branches overshadow all the inhabitants of the earth,
and its roots extend to the depths of the abyss : from it
have arisen the twelve tribes, and from it will arise
kings, princes, and priests in their divisions, to offer
oblations, and from it the Levites in their appointments
for singing. Then, behold, Joseph bowed himself upon
his father’s face, and wept over him, and kissed him.
[Jerusalem. And Joseph laid him on a couch of
ivory which was covered with pure gold, and inset with
pearls, and spread with clothes of byssos and purple.
There they poured out wine with choice perfumes, there
they burned aromatic gums ; there stood the chiefs of
the house of Esau ; there stood the princes of the house
of Ishmael; there stood the Lion Jehuda, the strength
of his brethren. And Jehuda answered and said to
his brethren, Come, let us raise up to our father a tall
cedar, whose head shall reach to heaven, but whose
branches unto the inhabitants of the world. Erom it
have arisen the twelve tribes, from it the priests with
their trumpets and the Levites with their harps. And
they wept, and Joseph bowed himself on the face of
his father, and wept over him and kissed him.]
ON GENESIS.
341
L.]
And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians
to embalm his father; and the physicians embalmed
Israel. And the forty days of embalming were completed
to him; for so fulfil they the days of embalming; and
the Mizraee lamented him seventy days ; saying one to
another, Come, let us lament over Jakob the Holy,
whose righteousness turned away the famine from the
land of Mizraim. Eor it had been decreed that there
should be forty and two years of famine, but through
the righteousness of Jakob forty years are withheld from
Mizraim, and there came famine but for two years only.7
And the days of his mourning passed. And Joseph
spake with the lords of the house of Pharoh, saying, If
I may find favour in your eyes, speak now in the
hearing of Pharoh, saying, My father made me swear,
saying, Behold, I die, in the sepulchre which I have
prepared for me in the land of Kenaan there shalt thou
bury me. And now let me go up and bury my father,
and I will return. And Pharoh said. Go up, and bury
thy father, according as he made thee swear.
And Joseph went up to bury his father ; and all the
servants of Pharoh, the elders of his house, and all the
elders of the land of Mizraim, went up with him.
And all the men of Joseph’s house, and his brethren,
and his father’s household : only their children, and
their sheep and oxen, left they in the land of Goshen.
And there went up with him chariots and horsemen
and a very great host. And they came to the thresh¬
ing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jardena, and
there they lamented with a great and mighty lamenta¬
tion. And he made there a mourning for his father
seven days. And the inhabitants of the land of
Kenaan beheld the mourning at the threshing-floor of
Atad, and they loosed the girdles of their loins in
7 Fiction.
342 TARGUM OP PALESTINE [CHAP.
honour of Jakob, and spread forth their hands, and said.
This is a mighty mourning of the Mizraee. Therefore
he called the name of the place Abel Mizraim, which is
on the other side of Jardena. And his sons did for
him as he had commanded them.
But when his sons had brought him into the land of
Kenaan, and the thing was heard by Esau the Wicked,
he journeyed from the mountain of Gebala with many
legions, and came to Hebron, and would not suffer
Joseph to bury his father in the Double Cave. Then
forthwith went Naphtali, and ran, and went down to
Mizraim, and came in that day, and brought the Instru¬
ment that Esau had written for Jakob his brother in
the controversy of the Double Cave. And immediately
he beckoned to Husliim the son of Dan, who
unsheathed the sword and struck off the head of the
wicked Esau, and the head of Esau rolled into the
midst of the cave, and rested upon the bosom of Izliak
his father; and the sons of Esau buried his body in
the double field,8 and afterward the sons of Jakob
buried him in the cave of the double field ; in the field
which Abraham bought for an inheritance-sepulchre, of
Ephron the Hitah, over against Mamre.
And Joseph returned to Mizraim, he and his breth¬
ren, and all who went up with him to bury his father,
after they had buried his father.
And Joseph's brethren saw that their father was
dead, and that he (Joseph) did not return to eat
together with them, and they said, Perhaps Joseph
retaineth enmity against us, and will bring upon us all
the evil that we did him. And they instructed Bilhah
to say to Joseph, Thy father commanded before his
death to speak to thee, Thus shall you say to Joseph,
Eorgive now the guilt of thy brethren and their sin, for
8 Fiction.
ON GENESIS,
343
L.j
they committed evil against tliee ; but forgive, I beseech
thee, the guilt of the servants of the God of thy father,
[Jerusalem. And they instructed the tribe of Bilhah
the handmaid of Bahel to say, Thy father before he was
gathered commanded, saying.]
And Joseph wept when they spake with him. And
his brethren came also, and bowed themselves before
him, and said, Behold, we are thy servants. And
Joseph said to them, Pear not, for I will not do you
evil, but good ; for I fear and humble myself before the
Lord. [Jerusalem. And Joseph said to them, Pear
not, for the evil that you did me hath ended. Are not
the thoughts of the sons of men before the Lord ?]
You indeed imagined against me evil thoughts, that
when I did not recline with you to eat it was because
I retained enmity against you. But the Word of the
Lord thought on me for good ; for my father hath
caused me to sit at the head, and on account of his
honour I received ; but now not for the sake of my
(own) righteousness or merit was it given me to
work out for you deliverance this day for the preserva¬
tion of much people of the house of Jakob. And now
fear not ; I will sustain you and your little ones. And
lie comforted them, and spake consolation to their
heart.
And Joseph dwelt in Mizraim, he and his father's
house. And Joseph lived a hundred and ten years.
And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third
generation ; also the sons of Makir the son of
Menasheh, when they were born, were circumcised by
Joseph.
And Joseph said to his brethren, Behold, I die ; but
the Lord remembering will remember you, and will
bring you up from this land, into the land which He
sware to Abraham, to Izhak, and to Jakob. And
344 TARGUM OF PALESTINE ON GENESIS.
Joseph adjured the sons of Israel to say to their sons,
Behold, you will be brought into servitude in Mizraim ;
but you shall not presume to go up out of Mizraim
until the time that two Deliverers shall come, and say
to you, Remembering, remember ye the Lord. And at
the time when ye go up ye shall carry up my bones
from hence.
And Joseph died, the son of a hundred and ten
years. And they embalmed him with perfumes, and
laid him in an ark, and submerged him in the midst of
the Nilos of Mizraim. [Jerusalem. And they em¬
balmed him, and laid him in an ark in the land of
Mizraim.9
9 The Jerusalem Talmud records the tradition that “ the Egyptians
enclosed the body of Joseph in a metal coffin, and buried it in the Nile,
that thereby the watei’9 of the river might be blessed ; ” and that at
the Exodus the coffin was recovered. — Sot ah, 10.
END OF THE TARGUM OF PALESTINE
ON THE SEPHER BERESHITH.
THE TARGUM OF ONKELOS
ON
THE BOOK SHEMOTH,
OR
EXODUS.
[In the Pentateuch the first chapter of Exodus begins the Thirteenth
Section of the Law with the initial Shemoth, or Names.]
I. And these are the names of the sons of Israel
who came into Mizraim with Jakob ; (each) man with
the men of his house they came in : Beuben, Shimeon,
Levi and Jehudah, Issakar, Zebulon and Benyamin,
Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. And all the souls
that came forth from the thigh of Jakob were seventy
souls, with Joseph who was in Mizraim.
And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that
generation ; but the sons of Israel increased and pro¬
pagated, and became great and very mighty, and the
land was filled with them.
But a new king arose over Mizraim who did not hold
valid (or confirm) the decree of Joseph. And he said
to his people, Behold, the people of the sons of Israel
are more numerous and stronger than we : come, let us
deal wisely by them, lest they multiply, and it be that
should war happen to us they join themselves with our
enemies, and break forth in the war against us, and go
up from the land. And they appointed over them evil-
doing governors (shiltonin) to afflict them in their
labours. And they builded cities of treasure houses for
Q 5
346 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
Pharoh, Pithom, and Baamsas. But by as much as
they afflicted them, so they increased and waxed strong,
and the Mizraee had vexation on account of the sons
of Israel; and the Mizraee made the sons of Israel
serve with rigour, and embittered their lives with hard
labour, in clay and in brick, and in all labour of the
field, — all the work which they wrought, they made
them do with hardship.
And the king of Mizraim spake to the midwives of
Jewesses, ( Yehuditha ,) of whom the name of the one
was Shiphra, and the name of the second Puvah ; and he
said, When you do the office of the midwife among the
Jewish women, and you look upon the childbirth, if it
be a son, you shall kill him ; but if a daughter, let her
live. But the midwives feared before the Lord, and
did not act as the king of Mizraim had bidden them,
but preserved the sons alive. And the king of Miz¬
raim called the midwives and said to them, Why have
you done this thing and have kept the sons alive ?
And the midwives said to Pharoh, It is because the
Jewesses are unlike the Mizraite women; they are
cunning, and give birth before the midwives come to
them. And the Lord did good to the midwives; and
the people multiplied and became very strong. And
because the midwives feared before the Lord He made
for them houses. But Pharoh commanded all his
people, saying, Every son who is born to the Jews you
shall throw into the river, and every daughter you shall
keep alive.
II. And a man of the house of Levi went and took
a daughter of Levi (to wife). And the woman con¬
ceived, and bare a son ; and she saw that he was good,
and concealed him three months. But not being able
to hide him longer, she took an ark of reed, and
covered it with bitumen and pitch, and laid the child
ON EXODUS.
347
«•]
within it, and set it in the river upon the brink of the
stream.1 And his sister stationed herself at a distance,
to know what would be done to him.
And the daughter of Pharoh came down to wash at
the river, and her damsels walked on the river’s bank ;
and she saw the ark in the flood,2 and reached out her
arm and took it. And opening, she saw the child ;
and, behold, the infant wept. And she had compassion
on him and said, This is one of the children of the
Jehudaee. Then spake his sister to the daughter of
Pharoh, Shall I go and call a nurse-woman of the
Jehudaee who will suckle the child for thee ? And the
daughter of Pharoh said to her, Go ; and the maiden
went, and called the child’s mother. And Pharoh’s
daughter said to her, Take this child and nurse it for
me, and I will give thee thy recompense. And the
woman took the child and suckled him. And the
child grew, and she brought him to Pharoh’s
daughter, and he became to her a son, and she called
his name Mosheh, saying, Because I drew him out from
the water.
And it was in those days when Mosheh had grown
that he went out to his brethren and beheld their ser¬
vitude. And he saw a Mizraite man smite a man, a
Jehudai, (one) of his brethren. And he turned this
way and that, and saw that there was no man ; and
smote the Mizraite, and buried him in the sand. And
he went out the second day, and, behold, two men,
Jehudaeen contended. And he said to the guilty one,
Why did you strike your companion? But he said.
Who set you a chief man and a judge over us ? Will
you who speak so kill me, as you killed the Mizraya ?
And Mosheh was afraid, and said, Surely the thing is
known. And Pharoh heard that thing, and sought to
1 Sam. Vers., “ among the rushes.” 2 Ibid.
348 TAllGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
kill Mosheh ; and Mosheh fled from before Pliaroh,
and dwelt in the land of Midian.
And he sat by a well ; and the prince (rabba) of
Midian had seven daughters ; and they came and drew
and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.
But the shepherds came and drave them away ; and
Mosheh arose and rescued them, and watered the flock.
And they came to Beuel their father ; and he said.
What is this, that ye have come so quickly to-day ?
And they said, A man, a Mizraya, delivered us from the
hand of the shepherds, and also drew for us and
watered the flock. And he said to his daughters, And
where is he ? wherefore have you left the man ? Call
him, that he may eat bread. And Mosheh was willing
to dwell with the man; and he gave Zipporah his
daughter unto Mosheh. And she bare a sou ; and he
called his name Gershom ; for, said he, I am a stranger
in a foreign land.
And it was in many of those days : and the king of
Mizraim died. And the sons of Israel groaned with
the hard service which was upon them ; and the cry
rose up before the presence of the Lord, from their
labour. And their appeal was heard before the Lord ;
and the Lord remembered His covenant with Abraham,
with Izhak, and with Jakob. And the servitude of the
sons of Israel was known before the Lord, and the
Lord said in His Word, that He would deliver them.
III. And Mosheh tended the flock of Jelhro his
father-in-law, the rabba of Midian, and he led the flock
to the place of the best pastures of the wilderness, and
came to the mountain on which was revealed the glory
of the Lord, unto Horeb. And the Angel of the Lord
appeared to him in a flame of fire in the midst of a
bush.' And he gazed, and, behold, the bush burned
with fire, but the bush was not consumed. And
ON EXODUS.
349
in.]
Mosheh said, I will now turn and see this great sight,
why the bush is not burned up. And the Lord saw
that he turned to see, and the Lord called to him from
the midst of the bush, and said, Mosheh, Mosheh !
And he said, Behold me. And He said. Approach not
hither ; 3 loose the sandal from thy foot, for the place
where thou standest is holy. And He said, I am the
God of thy fathers ; the God of Abraham, the God of
Izhak, and the God of Jakob. And Mosheh bowed
with his face ; for he was afraid to look up to the glory
of the Lord.
And the Lord said, The bondage of My people who
is in Mizraim is verily disclosed before Me, and before
Me is heard their cry on account of their toils ; 4 for
their afflictions are disclosed before me; and I have
appeared to deliver them from the hand of the Mizraee,
and to bring them up from that land, unto a land good
and large, a land producing milk and honey, unto the
place of the Kenaanaee, and the Hittaee, and the Amo-
raee, and the Perizaee, and the Hivaee, and Yevusaee.
And now, behold, the cry of the sons of Israel ascend-
eth before Me, and the affliction is also revealed before
Me wherewith the Mizraee afflict them. And now,
come, I will send thee to Pharoh, and will bring forth
the sons of Israel from Mizraim.
And Mosheh said before the Lord, Who am I, that
I should go unto Pharoh to bring forth the sons of
Israel from Mizraim ? And He said, Because My
Word shall be thy helper : and this shall be the sign
that I have sent thee : In thy leading forth of the
people from Mizraim you shall do service before the
Lord upon this mountain.
And Mosheh said before the Lord, Behold, when I
3 Sam. Vers., “ suddenly,” or, “ rashly.”
4 Sam. Vers., “ before the face of their taskmasters.”
350 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
am come to the sons of Israel, and say to them, The
God of your fathers hath sent me to you, and they say
to me, What is His name ? what shall I say to them ?
And the Lord said unto Mosheh, Eheyeh asher
Eheyeh. And he said, Thus shalt thou speak to the
sons of Israel, Eheyeh hath sent me unto you.
The Lord said moreover to Mosheh, Thus shalt
thou speak to the sons of Israel, The Lord, the God of
your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Izhak,
and the God of Jakob, hath sent me unto you. This
is My Name for ever, and this is My Memorial in every
generation and generation. Go and assemble the
elders of Israel and say to them, The Lord, the God of
your fathers, hath revealed Himself to me, the God of
Abraham, Izhak, and Jakob, saying, Remembering I
have remembered you, and that which hath been done
to you in Mizraim ; and I have said that I would bring
you up from the bondage of Mizraim to the land of the
Kenaanaee, and Hittaee, and Emoraee, and the Pherizaee,
and Hivaee, and Jebusaee, — to a land producing milk and
honey. And they will be obedient to thee,5 and thou shalt
go, thou and the elders of Israel, to the king of Mizraim,
and say to him. The Lord, the God of the Jehudaee,
hath called us ; 6 and now let us go, as (for) a journey
of three days into the desert, that we may sacrifice
before the Lord our God. But it is manifest before
Me that the king of Mizraim will not release you, that
you may go, not even on account of Him whose power
is mighty. But I will send forth the stroke of My
power, and will smite the Mizraee with all My miracles
which I will perform among them, and afterward they
will send you away. And I will give this people to
become favourites in the eyes of the Mizraee, and it
5 Al. cod “ to thy word.”
8 Al. cod.} “ hath revealed Himself to us.”
ON EXODUS.
351
IV.]
shall be that when you go you shall not go empty.
But you shall demand, a woman of her neighbour and the
inmates of her house, articles of silver and of gold and
vestments, and put them upon your sons and upon
your daughters, and shall make the Mizraee empty.7
IY. And Mosheh answered and said, But, behold,
they will not believe me nor hearken to me : for they will
say, The Lord hath not been revealed to thee. And
the Lord said to him, What is that which is in thy
hand ? and he said, A rod. And He said, Cast it to
the ground ; and he cast it upon the ground, and it
became a serpent, and Mosheh fled from before it. And
the Lord said to Mosheh, Stretch forth thy hand and
seize it by its tail ; and he put forth his hand and
grasped it, and it became a rod in his hand. That they
may believe that the Lord God of their fathers hath
been revealed to thee, the God of Abraham, the God of
Izhak, and the God of Jakob. And the Lord said yet
to him. Put now thy hand into thy bosom. And he
put his hand into his bosom, and drew it out ; and,
behold, his hand was white as snow. And He said,
Beturn thy hand into thy bosom.. And he returned
his hand into his bosom, and drew it out from his bosom,
and, behold, it had turned to be as his own flesh. And
it shall be, if they will not believe thee nor receive the
voice of the first sign, that they shall believe the voice
of the latter sign. But if they will not believe either
of these two signs, nor receive from thee, take of the
water that is in the river, and pour it upon the ground ;
and the water which thou takest from the river shall
become blood upon the ground.
And Mosheh said before the Lord, In entreating, I
am not a man who is (well) spoken, neither yesterday
nor the day before, and from the time that thou spakest
7 Sam. Vers., “ strip the Mizraee.”
352 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
with Thy servant : for I am heavy of speech and of a
deep 8 tongue. But the Lord said to him. Who hath
appointed the mouth of man, and who hath appointed
the mute, or the deaf, or the open-sighted, or the blind ?
Have not I, the Lord ? And now go, and My Word
shall be with thy mouth, and I will teach thee what to
say. And he said, I beseech the Lord to send by the
hand of one who is fit to be sent. And the displeasure
of the Lord was kindled against Mosheh ; and He said,
Is not Aharon the Levite, thy brother, known before Me
as one who speaking can speak? and also, behold, he
cometh forth to anticipate thee, and will see thee, and
rejoice in his heart. And thou shalt speak with him,
and put the words in his mouth ; and My Word will be
with thy mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach
you what to do. And he shall speak for thee with the
people, and shall be thy interpreter, and thou shalt be
to him a rab ; and this staff thou shalt take in thy
hand wherewith to work the signs.
And Mosheh went, and returned to J ether his father-
in-law, and said to him, I will now go and return to my
brethren wLo are in Mizraim, and see if they still live.
And Jether said to Mosheh, Go in peace. And the
Lord said to Mosheh in Midian, Go, return to Mizraim ;
for all the men who sought to kill thee are dead. And
Mosheh took his wife and his sons, and made them ride
upon the ass, and returned to the land of Mizraim.
And Mosheh took the staff with which the miracles had
been done before the Lord in his hand. And the Lord
said to Mosheh, In thy going to return to Mizraim
look to all the wonders that I have appointed by thy
hand, and do them before Pharoh. But I will obdurate
his heart, and he will not send the people away. And
thou shalt say unto Pharoh, Thus said the Lord; Israel
e Or, "stammering.”
ON EXODUS.
353
v.]
is My son, My firstborn. And I say unto tbee, Let
My son go, that he may serve before Me ; and if thou
refuse to send him away, behold, I will kill thy son, thy
firstborn.
And it was in the way, at the place of lodging, that
the Angel of the Lord met him, and sought to kill him.
And Zipporah took a stone, and circumcised the fore¬
skin of her son, and approached before him, and said,
On account of the blood of this circumcision let my
husband be given (back) to me. And when he had
desisted from him, she said. But for the blood of this
circumcision my husband would have been condemned
to die.
And the Lord said to Aharon, Go thou to meet
Mosheh in the desert. And he went, and met him at
the mountain on which was revealed the glory of the
Lord, and he kissed him. And Mosheh showed Aharon
all the words with which the Lord had sent him, and
all the signs which he had commanded. And Mosheh
and Aharon went and assembled all the elders of the
sons of Israel ; and Aharon told all the words which
the Lord had spoken with Mosheh, and did the signs
in the eyes of the people. And the people believed,
and understood (heard) that the Lord had remembered
the sons of Israel, and that their slavery was manifest
before him; and they bowed, and adored.
V. And afterward Mosheh and Aharon went in, and
said to Pharoh : Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel,
Let My people go, to solemnize a feast {yechagun)
before Me in the desert. And Pharoh said. The name
of the Lord is not known to me, that I should hearken
to His word to send Israel away. The name of the
Lord is not revealed to me, and Israel I shall not
release. And they said. The God of the Jehudaee hath
revealed Himself to us ; let us now go three days' journey
354 TAUGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
into the desert to sacrifice before the Lord our God,
lest He come upon us with death or with slaughter.
And the king of Mizraim said to them, Why, Mosheh
and Aharon, do you hinder the people from their works ?
Go to your employment. And Pharoh said, Behold
now, the people of the land are many, and you make them
relax from their employment. And Pharoh that day
commanded the masters 9 of the people and the over¬
seers, 10 saying, You shall not continue (add) to give
straw to the people to cast bricks, as heretofore ; let
them go and collect straw for themselves ; yet the
number 11 of bricks which they have made heretofore
you shall still lay upon them and not diminish; for
they are idle, and therefore cry, saying, We will go
and sacrifice before our God. Make labour heavy upon
the men : let them be occupied with it, and not with
vain words. And the masters of the people and the
overseers went forth and spake to the people, saying.
Thus saith Pharoh, I will not give you straw ; you shall
go and gather up straw for yourselves wheresoever you
can find it; though from your work there shall be
nothing diminished. And the people were scattered
abroad over all the country of Mizraim to gather
stubble for straw. And the masters were urgent, saying,
Fulfil your work, the matter of a day in a day, as you
did when straw was given you. And the masters whom
Pharoh set over the sons of Israel smote them, saying,
Why do you not fulfil your requirement to cast the
bricks as heretofore, as yesterday, so also to-day ? And
the overseers of the sons of Israel came and complained
before Pharoh, saying, Why hast thou done thus with
thy servants ? Thou hast not given thy servants straw,
yet they say to us, Make bricks ; and, behold, thy servants
9 Sam. Vers., “the foremen.” 10 Sam. Vers., “his scribes.”
11 Sam. Vers., “ proportion.”
ON EXODUS.
355
VI.]
are beaten, and thy people sin against us. But he said,
You are idle, you are idle : therefore you say. We will go
and sacrifice before the Lord. And now go, work : but
straw I will not give you ; yet the number of bricks
you shall render. And the overseers of the sons of
Israel perceived that they were in evil : for they said to
them. You shall not diminish from your bricks the
matter of a day, in a day.
And they met Mosheh and Aharon standing before
them in their coming out from being with Pharoh. And
they said to them. May the Lord manifest Himself to
you and adjudge ; 1 because you have made our savour
evil in the eyes of Pharoh, and in the eyes of his servants,
and have put a sword into their hands to kill us ! And
Mosheh returned before the Lord and said, 0 Lord, why
hast Thou done evil unto this people, and wTherefore
didst Thou send me ? and from the time that I went in
to Pharoh to speak in Thy name he hath done evil to
this people, but liberating Thou hast not liberated Thy
people. YI. But the Lord said to Mosheh, Now shalt
thou see what I will do to Pharoh : for with a strong
hand shall he send them away, and with a strong hand
drive them from his land.
SECTION XIY.
VAERA.
And the Lord spake to Mosheh and said to him, I
am the Lord ; and I appeared unto Abraham and to
Izhak and to Jakob by (the name) EUShaddai, but by
My name Jehovah2 I was not known to them. And also
1 Sam. Vers., “ interpret.” 2 Onkelos, Yeyd.
356 TAR, GUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
I have confirmed My covenant with them to give them
the land of Kenaan, the land of their sojournings in
which they sojourned. And before Me hath been heard
the cry of the sons of Israel whom the Mizraee make to
labour for them ; and I have remembered My covenant.
Therefore, say thou to the sons of Israel, I am the
Lord, and I will bring you out from the midst of
the sore labour for the Mizraee, and will deliver
you from their servitude, and redeem you with a lofty
arm and with great judgments. And I will bring
you nigh before Me to be a people, and I will be unto
you a God; and you shall know that I am the Lord
your God who bringeth you out from the sore Mizrean
bondage. And I will lead you into the land w'hich I
have sworn in My Word to give to Abraham, to Izhak,
and to Jakob ; and to you will I give it for an inherit¬
ance ; I am the Lord. And Mosheh so spake with the
sons of Israel : but they received not from Mosheh
through anguish of spirit, and from the labour which
was hard upon them.
And the Lord spake to Mosheh, saying, Go in, speak
with Pharoh king of Mizraim, that he send awray the
sons of Israel from his land. And Mosheh spake before
the Lord, saying, Behold, the sons of Israel have not
received from me, and how then wfill Pharoh receive, and
I (so) heavy of speech ? And the Lord spake to Mosheh
and Aharon, and gave them commandment to the sons
of Israel and unto Pharoh king of Mizraim for the going
forth of the sons of Israel from the land of Mizraim.
These are the heads of the house of their fathers.
The sons of Eeuben the firstborn of Israel, Hanuk and
Phalli, Hetsron and Karmi ; these are the progeny of
Eeuben. And the sons of Shimeon, Yemuel and Yamiu
and Achad and Yakin and Zochar and Shaul the son of
a Pvenaanitha ; these are the progeny of Shimeon. And
ON EXODUS.
357
VI.]
these are the names of the sons of Levi, according to
their generations : Gershon and Kehath and Merari.
And the years of the life of Levi were a hundred and
thirty and seven years. The sons of Gerson, Libni and
Shimei, after their progenies. And the sons of Kehath,
Am ram and Izhar and Hebron and Uzziel. And the
years of the life of Kehath, a hundred and thirty and
three years. And the sons of Merari, Maheli and
Mushi. These are the progenies of Levi, after their
generations. And Amram took Yokebed the sister of
his father unto him to wife, and she bare him Aharon
and Moslieh. And the years of the life of Amram were
an hundred and thirty and seven years. And the sons
of Izhar, Korah and Nepheg and Zikri. And the sous
of Uzziel, Mishael and Elzaphan and Sithri. And
Aharon took Elisheba the daughter of Aminadab the
sister of Nachshon to him to wife ; and she bare him
Nadab and Abihu, Elazar and Ithamar. And the sons
of Korah, Asir and Elkanah and Abiasaph : these are
the progeny of Korah. And Elazar the son of Aharon
took (one) of the daughters of Phutiel to himself to
wife, and she bare him Pinhas. These are the chiefs of
the fathers of the Levaee, according to their generations.
It is Aharon and Mosheh, to whom the Lord had said.
Bring forth the sons of Israel from the land of Mizraim
by their armies. These are they who spake with Pharoh
king of Mizraim to let the sons of Israel go forth from
Mizraim : it is Mosheh and Aharon.
And it was in the day when the Lord spake with
Mosheh in the land of Mizraim, that the Lord spake
unto Mosheh, saying, I am the Lord : Speak with
Pharoh king of Mizraim all that I have said to thee.
But Mosheh said before the Lord, Behold, I am heavy
of speech, and how will Pharoh receive from me ? But
the Lord said to Mosheh, See, I have appointed thee a
358 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
Master (rah) with Pharoli, and Aharon shall be thy
interpreter ( methurgeman ). Thou shalt speak all that
I have commanded thee, and Aharon thy brother shall
speak with Pharoh to send away the sons of Israel from
his land. And I will harden the heart of Pharoh, and
will multiply My signs and wonders in the land of
Mizraim. But Pharoh will not receive from you ; and
I will give forth the stroke of My power upon Mizraim,
and will bring out My host, My people, the sons of
Israel, from the land of Mizraim by great judgments.
And the Mizraee shall know that I am the Lord when
I uplift the stroke of My power upon Mizraim, and
bring forth the sons of Israel from among them. And
Mosheh and Aharon did as the Lord commanded them,
so did they. And Mosheh was the son of eighty years,
and Aharon the son of eighty and three years, in their
speaking with Pharoh.
And the Lord spake to Mosheh and Aharon, saying,
When Pharoh shall speak to you, saying, Produce a
sign, thou shalt say to Aharon, Take thy rod, and throw
it down before Pharoh, and it shall become a serpent
(i tanina , Heb., tanin, a long creature, whether serpent
or crocodile. T.). And Mosheh and Aharon went in unto
Pharoh, and did as the Lord had commanded them.
Aharon threw down his rod before Pharoh and before
his servants, and it became a serpent. And Pharoh
called for the wise men and the magicians ; and they
also, the Mizraite magicians, did so by their enchant¬
ments. They cast down every man his rod, and they
became serpents; but the rod of Aharon swallowed up
their rods. And PharolPs heart was hardened, and he
would not hearken to them, as the Lord had said.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, The heart of Pharoh
is obdurate (heavy) : he is unwilling to send the people
away. Go unto Pharoh in the morning; behold, he
ON EXODUS.
859
VII.]
goeth, forth to the waters, and stand to meet him on the
bank of the river, and the rod that was turned to a
serpent (« ohevja , Heb., nachash) take in thy hand ;
and say to him, The Lord God of the Jehudaee hath
sent me to thee, saying, Release My people, that they
may serve before Me in the desert; and, behold, thou hast
not yet acceded. Thus saith the Lord, By this thou
shalt know that I am the Lord : Behold, with the rod
that is in my hand I smite the water of the river, and it
shall be turned to blood : and the fish which are in the
river shall die, and the river become putrid, and the
Mizraee try in vain to drink the water from the river.
And the Lord spake to Mosheh, Say to Aharon,
Take thy rod, and lift up thy hand over the waters of
the Mizraee, upon their rivers, upon their canals, and
upon their lakes, and upon all their reservoirs of water,
that they may become blood ; and there shall be blood
in all the land of Mizraim, and in vessels of wood and
in vessels of stone. And Mosheh and Aharon did so,
as the Lord commanded; and he lifted the rod, and
struck the waters of the river, in the sight of Pharoh,
and in the eyes of his servants, and all the waters of the
river were turned into blood. And the fish of the river
died, and the river became putrid ; and the Mizraee
could not drink of the water of the river, and there was
blood in all the land of Mizraim. And the magicians
did so with their enchantments ; and Pharoh's heart was
hardened, and he would not hearken to them, as the Lord
had said. And Pharoh turned and entered into his
house; neither did he set his heart also unto this.
And all the Mizraee digged by the bending of the river
for water to drink ; for the water which was in the river
they could not drink.
And seven days were fulfilled after that the Lord had
struck the river ; and the Lord said to Mosheh, Go in
360 TARGTJM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
unto Pliaroh and say to him, Thus saith the Lord :
Send away My people, that they may serve before me.
But if thou refuse to send them away, behold, I will
smite all thy borders with frogs, and the river shall
multiply frogs ; and they shall come up and enter into
thy house, and into thy chamber the place of sleep, and
Upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and
among thy people, and into thy ovens and thy kneading
pans ; and upon thee and upon thy people and upon all
thy servants shall the frogs come up. And the Lord
said to Mosheh, Say to Aharon, Uplift thy hand with
thy staff upon the streams, upon the rivulets, and upon
the lakes ; and the frogs shall come up on the land of
Mizraim. And Aharon lifted up his hand over the
waters of the Mizraee, and the frogs came up and
covered the land of Mizraim. And the magicians did
so with their enchantments, and made frogs to come up
on the land of Mizraim. And Pliaroh called Mosheh
and Aharon, and said, Pray before the Lord that the
frogs may be removed from me and from my people ;
and I will release the people, that they may sacrifice
before the Lord. And Mosheh said to Pliaroh, Demand
for thyself a miracle, and appoint me a time8 when I
shall pray for thee, and for thy servants and thy people,
that the frogs may be finished from thee and from thy
house, and remain only in the river. And he said, To¬
morrow. And he said, According to thy word ; that
thou mayest know that there is none as the Lord our
God. And the frogs shall be removed from thee and
from thy house and thy servants and thy people ; in the
river only shall they remain. And Mosheh and Aharon
went out from Pliaroh ; and Mosheh prayed before the
Lord concerning the frogs which he had appointed unto
Pliaroh. And the Lord did according to the words of
3 Sam. Yers., "Decide for me,” or, “over me.”
ON EXODUS.
361
vii r.]
Mosheh ; and the frogs died from the houses, and from
the courts, and from the fields. And they gathered
them in heaps (upon) heaps, and they corrupted upon
the ground. And Pliaroh saw that there was relief ;
and hardened his heart, and would not hearken to them,
as the Lord had said.
And the Lord spake to Mosheh, Say unto Aharon,
Lift up thy rod and smite the dust of the earth, and it
shall become insects,4 in all the land of Mizraim.
And they did so. And Aharon lifted up his hand with the
rod and smote the dust of the earth, and it became insects
on man and on cattle ; all the dust of the earth became
insects in all the land of Mizraim. And the magicians
wrought so with their enchantments to produce the
insects, but were not able ; and there were insects on
man and on beast. And the magicians said to Pharoh,
This is a plague from before the Lord. Yet Pharoh's
heart was hardened, and he would not hearken to them,
as the Lord had said.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Arise in the morning
and stand before Pharoh ; behold, he goeth out to the
waters ; and say to him, Thus saith the Lord, Send My
people away, that they may serve before Me. Por if
thou wilt not send My people away, behold, I will send
on thee, and on thy servants, and on thy people, and
upon thy houses, the aroba ; 5 and they shall fill the
houses of the Mizraee with the aroba; and also the
ground on which they are. But I will make a distinc¬
tion in that day with the land of Goshen where My
people dwell, that the aroba shall not be there ; so that
thou mayest know that I the Lord do rule in the midst
of the earth. And I will ordain redemption to My
4 “ Poisonous flies.” Kalmetha , Onk. Ciniphes, Skniphes, LXX.
8 Heb., Arob ; probably beetles, — blatta JEgyptica, a formidable and
voracious insect.
R
362 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
people, but upon thy people shall be the plague. To¬
morrow shall this sign be. And the Lord did so ; and
the aroba came with strength into the house of Pharoh,
and into the house of his servants, and into all the land
of Mizraim; and the land was destroyed before the
aroba.
And Pharoh called for Mosheli and Aharon, and said,
Go, sacrifice before your God in the land. But
Mosheh said, It will not be fitting to do so ; because
the animals which the Mizraee worship we shall take to
sacrifice before the Lord our God. Behold, should we
immolate the animal which the Mizraee worship, would
they not stone us when they saw it ? A journey of
three days will we go into the desert, and sacrifice
before the Lord our God, as He hath told us. And Pharoh
said, I will send you away, that you may sacrifice before
the Lord your God in the desert ; only you shall not go
farther and farther : pray also for me. And Mosheh
said. Behold, I will go out from being with thee, and
will pray before the Lord, and He will remove the aroba
from Pharoh, and from his servants, and his people, to¬
morrow ; only let Pharoh no more be false 6 in not
sending away the people to sacrifice unto the Lord.
And Mosheh went out from before Pharoh, and prayed
before the Lord. And the Lord did according to the
word of Mosheh, and removed the aroba from Pharoh
and his servants, and his people; not one remained.
But Pharoh hardened his heart this time also, and
would not dismiss the people.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Go in unto Pharoh
and say to him : Thus saith the Lord, the God of the
Jehudaee; Send My people away, that they may serve
before Me : for if thou refuse to send them away, — and
thou hast kept them until now, — behold, a plague from
6 “ Add to lie.” So also the Sam. Vers.
ON EXODUS.
363
IX.]
before the Lord shall be upon thy cattle which are in
the -field; upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the
camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep, a very
great death. But the Lord will make distinction
between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of the Miz-
raee ; and of all that the children of Israel possess
not one shall die. And the Lord set a time,7
saying, To-morrow will the Lord do this thing in the
land. And the Lord did that thing on the following
day, and all the cattle of the Mizraee died ; but of the
cattle of the sons of Israel died not one. And Pharoh
sent, and, behold, not one of the cattle of the sons of
Israel had died. And PharolTs heart was hardened,
and he would not send the people away.
And the Lord said to Mosheh and Aharon, Take you
handfuls of dust of the furnace, and let Mosheh scatter
it towards the heavens in the presence of Pharoh ; and
it will be like fine powder upon all the land of Mizraim,
and it shall be upon man and beast an inflammation
growing into ulcers in all the land of Mizraim. And
they took the dust of the furnace and stood before
Pharoh; and Mosheh scattered it towards the heavens,
and it became an inflammation of ulcers multiplying on
man and beast. And the magicians could not stand
before Mosheh, on account of the disease ; for the
disease was upon the magicians and upon all the
Mizraee. And the Lord obdurated the heart of Pharoh,
and he would not hearken to them, as the Lord had
said to Mosheh.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Kise up in the morn¬
ing and stand before Pharoh, and say to him, Thus
saith the Lord, the God of the Jehudaee, Send My
people away, that they may serve before Me : for at this
time I will send all My plagues upon thy heart, and
7 Sam. Vers., “ appointed a testimony.”
B. 2
364 TARGTTM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
upon thy servants and thy people, that thou mayest
know that there is no one like Me, the Euler in all the
earth. E or now it is nigh before Me to send indeed My
strong plagues, and smite thee and thy people with
death, and cut thee off from the earth. Eor therefore
have I raised thee up, that I may show thee My power,
and that they may acknowledge the might of My
name in all the earth. Until now hast thou kept My
people down,8 that thou mayest not release them.
Behold, I will cause to come down, as at this time to¬
morrow, hail most mighty, the like of which hath never
been in Mizraim from the day that it was founded until
now. And now, send, gather in thy cattle and all that
thou hast in the field ; for upon every man and beast
that may be found in the field not gathered into the
house the hail will fall, and they shall die. Who feared
the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharoh
collected his servants and his cattle unto the houses;
but he who did not set his heart upon the word of the
Lord, left his servants and his cattle in the field.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Uplift thy hand
towards the heavens, and there shall be hail in all the
land of Mizraim upon man, and beast, and every herb
of the field throughout the land of Mizraim. And
Mosheh lifted up the rod towards the heavens, and the
Lord sent thunders, (voices,) and hail, and fire going
upon the ground : and the Lord rained hail upon the
land of Mizraim, and there was hail, and fire flaming
among the hail, very mighty, such as the like of had
not been in all the land of Mizraim since the time it
had been for a people. And the hail smote in all the
land of Mizraim all that was in the field from man to
cattle, and every herb of the field the hail struck, and
every tree of the field it brake. Only in the land of
8 Sam. Vers., “ hast dealt deceitfully with.”
ON EXODUS.
IX.]
365
Goshen, where the sons of Israel were, there was no
hail.
And Pharoh sent and called for Mosheh and Aharon,
and said to them, I have sinned this time; the Lord is
righteous, and I and my people are guilty. Pray before
the Lord that relief may be multiplied before Him, so
that there may be upon us no more thunders of maledic¬
tion like these before the Lord, nor hail; and I will
send you away, and will not continue to detain you.
And Mosheh said to him, When I shall have gone out
of the city, I will spread forth my hands in prayer
before the Lord, and the thunders shall cease, and there
shall be no more hail, that you may know that the
earth is the Lord's. But (as for) thee and thy ser¬
vants, I know that as yet ye are not humbled before the
Lord God. And the flax and the barley were smitten,
because the barley was earing, and the flax was in
flower : but the wheat and the spelt were not smitten,
for they were later. And Mosheh went out of the city
from Pharoh, and spread forth his hands in prayer
before the Lord, and the thunders ceased, and the hail
and the rain which had descended came not (more)
upon the earth. And Pharoh saw that the rain had
ceased, and the hail and the thunders, and he added
yet to sin, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
And the heart of Pharoh was hardened, and he would
not send away the sons of Israel, as the Lord had
spoken by the hand of Mosheh.
366
TARGUM OP ONKELOS
CHAP.
SECTION XY.
BO EL PHAROH.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Go in unto Pharoh ;
for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his ser¬
vants, to set these My signs among them ; and that
thou mayest relate before thy son and the son of thy
son the miracles which I wrought in Mizraim and the
signs that I did set among them, that ye may know
that I am the Lord. And Mosheh and Aharon
entered unto Pharoh, and said to him. Thus saith
the Lord the God of the Jehudaee, Until now thou
hast obstinately refused to humble thyself before Me ;
send My people away, that they may serve Me. For
if thou refuse to release My people, behold, to-morrow
I will bring the locust into thy borders, and he shall
cover the eye of the sun of the earth, (or, shall hide the
sun (which is) the eye of the earth,9) so that it will not
be possible to see the ground ; and he will devour the
residue which hath been spared (saved) and that hath
been reserved to you from the hail, and will devour
every tree which groweth up for you from the field ;
and they shall fill thy house, and the houses of thy
servants, and the houses of all the Mizraee, which thy
fathers have not seen, nor the fathers of thy fathers,
from the day they were upon the earth until this day.
And he turned and went out from Pharoh.
And the servants of Pharoh said to him, How long
shall this man be an injury (stumbling-block) to us?
Send the men away, that they may serve before the
Lord their God. Knowest thou not yet that Mizraim
hath perished ? And Mosheh and Aharon were made
to return unto Pharoh ; and he said to them, Go, serve
9 Sam. Vers., “ shall cover the appearance of the earth.*’
ON EXODUS.
367
X.]
before the Lord your God : (but) who and who shall go ?
And Mosheh said, With our young ones and with our
old men will we go ; with our sons and with our daughters,
with our sheep and with our oxen, will we go ; for we
have a feast before the Lord. And he said to them, So
be the Word of the Lord in your help when I send you
away and your little ones : beware, for the evil that you
are thinking to do will be turned against your faces.
Not so : but let the men go and serve before the Lord ;
for it was that which you demanded. And they were
driven from before Pharoh.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Lift up thy hand over
the land of Mizraim, that the locusts may come, and go
up on the land of Mizraim, and devour every herb of the
earth, even all which the hail hath left. And Mosheh
stretched forth his rod upon the land of Mizraim, and
the Lord led an east wind upon the land all that day and
all the night ; at morn the east wind barre the locust.
And the locust came up on all the land of Mizraim,
and abode in all the boundary of Mizraim exceedingly
strong. Before him the locust had never been like him,
nor afterward will he be so ; and he covered the eye of
the sun of all the earth, and the earth was darkened ;
and he devoured every herb of the ground, and all the
fruit of the trees which the hail had left ; and there did
not remain any green on the trees nor herbage of the
field in all the land of Mizraim. And Pharoh made
haste to call Mosheh and Aharon, and said, I have
sinned before the Lord your God, and you. And now,
forgive my sin only this time, and intercede before the
Lord your God, that He may remove from me only this
death. And they went out from Pharoh, and prayed
before the Lord. And the Lord turned a west wind
exceedingly strong, and it carried the locust and drave
him into the sea of Suph, nor did one locust remain in
868
TARGUM OP ONKELOS
[chap.
all the border of Mizraim. Yet the heart of Pharoh was
hardened, and he would not send the sons of Israel
away.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Uplift thy hand
towards heaven,1 and there shall be darkness 3 upon the
land of Mizraim after the darkness of the night hath
passed away. And Mosheh lifted up his hand towards
heaven, and there was darkness of darkness in all the
land of Mizraim three days : a man saw not his brother,
nor did any man rise up from his place, three days.
Yet, all the sons of Israel had light in their dwellings.
And Pharoh called Mosheh and said. Go, serve before
the Lord ; only leave your sheep and your oxen, your
little ones also may go with you. But Mosheh said.
Thou must give into our hands also the holy victims
and holocausts, that we may serve before the Lord our
God. Our cattle too shall go with us, and there shall
not remain any thereof ; for of it we must take to serve
the Lord our God, and we know not with what we have
to do service before Him until we come thither. But the
Lord hardened Pharoh's heart, and he was not willing
to send them away. And Pharoh said to him, Go from
me. Beware for thyself. See my face no more ; for in
the day that thou seest my face thou shalt die. And
Mosheh said, Thou hast spoken well. I will see thy
face no more.
But the Lord said to Mosheh, Yet one plague will I
bring upon Pharoh and upon Mizraim ; after which he
will send you hence. When sending away he thoroughly
driving will drive you from hence. Speak now before
the people of Israel that a man shall require of his com¬
panion, and a woman of her companion, vessels of silver
1 Al tsaith shemaya, “ towards the height of the heavens.” Sam,
Vers., “ towards the height.”
3 Sam. Vers., “ That darkness may be brought.”
ON EXODUS.
369
XII.]
and vessels of gold. And the Lord gave the people
favour in the eyes of the Mizraee ; also the man Mosheh
was very great in the land of Mizraim, in the eyes of
the servants of Pharoh and in the eyes of the people.
And Mosheh said, Thus saith the Lord, At the dividing
of the night I will be revealed in the midst of Mizraim,
and all the firstborn in the land of Mizraim shall die;
from the firstborn of Pharoh who would sit upon the
throne of his kingdom, unto the firstborn of the woman-
servant who is behind 3 the mills, and all the firstborn
of cattle. And there shall be a great cry in all the
land of Mizraim, the like of which hath not been, nor
will be the like of it again. But any one of the sons of
Israel no dog will hurt even with his tongue by barking,
from man and to beast, so that you shall know that the
Lord hath distinguished between the Mizraee and Israel.
And all these thy servants shall come down to me, and
beseech of me, saying, Go forth, thou and all thy people
who are with thee : and after that I will go forth. And
he went out from Pharoh with vehement anger.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Pharoh will not hearken
to you; therefore will I multiply My wonders in the
land of Mizraim. And Mosheh and Aharon wrought
all these wonders before Pharoh ; but the Lord hardened
Pharoh's heart, that he would not send the children of
Israel from his land.
XII. And the Lord spake to Mosheh and Aharon in
the land of Mizraim, saying, This month shall be to you
the beginning of the months ; the first, it shall be to you,
of the months of the year. Speak with all the congre¬
gation of Israel, saying, In the tenth of this month
they shall take to them every man a lamb for the
house of a father, a lamb for the house. And if the
house be smaller than the numbering (required) for the
3 Some copies, “ who is in the house of the mills.’*
Ei 5
370 TAUGUM OP ONKELOS [CHAP.
lamb, let him take himself, and his neighbour who is
nearest to his house, according to the number of the
souls, every man according to the mouth of his eating
shall you count over the lamb. The lamb shall be
perfect, a male, the son of a year ; it shall be to you ;
from the sheep or from the goats4 you may take it.
And you shall have it in keeping till the fourteenth day
of this month, and the whole church (kehala) of the
congregation of Israel shall kill him between the suns.
And they shall take of the blood, and apply it upon the
two posts and upon the lintel of the houses in which
they eat him. And they shall eat the flesh in that night
roasted with fire, and (with) unleavened cake with bitters
you shall eat him. You shall not eat of it while living,
neither boiled with boiling in water, but roasted with
fire ; his head with his feet and his inwards. And you
shall not leave of it till the morning ; and that which
remains of it till morning you shall burn in the fire.
And thus shall you eat it ; with your loins girded, with
your sandals on your feet, and your staves in your hands,
and you shall eat it in haste; it is the Pascha before the
Lord. And I will appear in the land of Mizraim in
that night, and will kill every firstborn in the land from
man unto beast, and on all the idols of Mizraim I will
execute judgment : I am the Lord. And the blood
shall be for you a sign upon the houses where you are ; and
I will see the blood, and will have mercy upon you, and
there shall not be among you the destruction of death
when I slay in the land of Mizraim. And this day
shall be to you for a memorial, and you shall solemnize
it a festival before the Lord in your generations ; an
everlasting ordinance (covenant) shall you solemnize it.
And on the first day there shall be an holy congregation,
and on the seventh day an holy congregation shall there
4 Other copies, " from the sons of the goats.”
ON EXODUS.
371
XII.]
be to you. Every kind of work may not be done in
them ; save what pertains to the eating of every soul,
that only may be done by you. And you shall keep the
(feast of the) Unleavened ; for on this very day shall I
have brought your hosts out of the land of Mizraim, and
you shall keep this day to all your generations for ever.5
In Nisan, on the fourteenth day of the month in the even¬
ing you shall eat unleavened, until the twenty and first of
the month in the evening. Seven days leaven shall not
be found in your houses ; for whosoever will eat of that
which is leavened, that man shall perish from the con¬
gregation of Israel, of the stranger, or of the native of
the land. You shall eat no leavened (food), in all your
dwellings you shall eat unleavened.
And Mosheh called for all the elders of Israel,
and said to them, Draw out, and take to you from
the sons of the flock for your families, and kill the
pascha. And you shall take a bundle of hyssop and
dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and sprinkle
upon the lintel and the two posts from the blood which
is in the basin ; and you shall not go forth from the
door of your house 6 until the morning. Eor the Lord
will be revealed to smite the Mizraee ; and seeing the
blood upon the lintel and upon the two posts, the Lord
will be merciful upon the door, and will not suffer the
Destroyer (or destruction) to enter your houses to
smite. And you shall observe the thing for an ordi¬
nance to thee and to thy sons for ever. And it shall
be, when you have entered into the land which the
Lord will give you as He hath said, that you shall (still)
keep this service. And it shall be, when your children
say to you. What is this service to you ? you shall
say, It is a sacrifice for compassion before the Lord,
8 Other copies, “ an everlasting ordinance in all your.”
9 Other copies, “ any man from the door of his house.”
372 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
because He had compassion on the house of the sons of
Israel in Mizraim, when He smote the Mizraee, but
spared our houses. And the people bowed and wor¬
shipped. And the sons of Israel went and did as the
Lord had commanded Mosheh and Aharon, so did
they.
And it came to pass at the dividing of the night that
the Lord slew all the firstborn in the land of Mizraim ;
from the firstborn of Pharoh who should sit on the
throne of his kingdom unto the firstborn of the captive
in the house of the chained, and all the firstborn of
cattle. And Pharoh rose up in that night, and all his
servants and all the Mizraee ; and there was a great cry
in Mizraim, because there was no house in which there
was not the dead. And he cried to Mosheh and to
Aharon by night, and said. Arise, go out from among
my people, you and the sons of Israel, and go and serve
before the Lord, as you have said. Your flocks and
your herds take also, as you have spoken, and go, and
.pray also for me. And the Mizraee were forcible on
the people to hasten to send them away ; for they said,
All of us are dead. And the people took their dough
while not leavened, remaining in the kneading pans,
bound with their clothes upon their shoulders. And
the children of Israel did according to the word of
Mosheh, and demanded of the Mizraee vessels of silver,
and vessels of gold, and raiment. And the Lord gave
the people favour in the eyes of the Mizraee, and they
demanded of them, and left the Mizraee empty.7
And the children of Israel journeyed from Ramases
to Succoth ; about six hundred’ thousand men on foot,
besides children (or families) ; and a multitude of
strangers also went up with them, and flocks and herds
and very much cattle. And they baked the dough
7 Sam. Vers., “ stripped.”
ON EXODU3.
373
XIII.]
which they had brought out from Mizraim (into)
unleavened cakes ; for it had not been leavened, because
they had been driven out from Mizraim and could not
stay, and they had not made provision. And the
dwelling of the sons of Israel in their abode in Mizraim
(was) four hundred and thirty years. And it was at
the end of four hundred and thirty years, in that same
day, that all the hosts of the Lord went forth from the
land of Mizraim. It is a night to be kept before the
Lord for bringing them forth from the land of
Mizraim : this is that night before the Lord kept by all
the children of Israel in their generations.
And the Lord said to Mosheh and to Aharon, This
is the rite of the Pascha. Every son of Israel who
apostatizes shall not eat of it ; but every male servant
bought with silver, and thou hast circumcised him, may
eat thereof. A sojourner and a hireling shall not eat
thereof. In one company it shall be eaten. You shall
not carry any of the flesh from the house without, and
a bone shall not be broken in him. All the congrega¬
tion of Israel shall do this. And when the sojourner
who sojourneth with thee will perform the pascha
before the Lord, every male of his shall be circumcised,
and he may then approach and perform it ; he shall be
as one born in the land, but none uncircumcised shall
eat of it. One law shall there be for the native and for
the proselyte who sojourneth among you. And all
the children of Israel did as the Lord commanded
Mosheh and Aharon, so did they. And it was on the
same day that the Lord led forth the sons of Israel
from the land of Mizraim by their armies.
XIII. And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying,
Sanctify unto Me all the firstborn. Every one which
openeth the womb among the children of Israel, of man
and of beast, that is Mine. And Mosheh said to the
374 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
people, Remember this day, in which you went forth
from Mizraim from the house of servitude ; for with a
mighty hand hath the Lord brought you forth from
thence ; and you shall not eat what is leavened. This
day have you come out, in the month of Abiba. And
it shall be when the Lord hath led thee into the land of
the Kenaanaee and Hittaee and Emoraee and Hivaee
and Jebusaee, which He covenanted to thy fathers to
give thee, a land producing milk and honey, that thou
shalt perform this service in this month. Seven days
thou shalt eat the ( pkatira ) unleavened cake, and in the
seventh day solemnize a feast before the Lord. The
unleavened cake thou shalt eat seven days ; that which
is leavened shall not be seen with thee ; the leavened
thing shall not be seen with thee in all thy limits.
And thou shalt teach thy son on that day, saying, (It
is) on account of that which the Lord did for me in
bringing me out of Mizraim. And it shall be a sign to
thee on thy hand, and for a memorial between thine
eyes, that the Law of the Lord may be in thy mouth,
for that with a mighty hand did the Lord bring thee
forth from Mizraim : and thou shalt keep this ordinance
in its season from time to time.
And it shall be, when the Lord hath brought thee
into the land of the Kenaanaee, as He sware to thee and
to thy fathers, and hath given it to thee, that thou shalt
make over whatsoever openeth the womb before the
Lord ; among the cattle which thou hast the male shall
be consecrate before the Lord. And every firstling of
an ass thou shalt ransom with a lamb ; but if thou wilt
not ransom it, thou shalt destroy it ; and every firstborn
of man among thy children thou shalt ransom. And
it shall be, when thy son shall ask thee to-morrow, say¬
ing, Why is this ? thou shalt say to him. By a mighty
hand the Lord brought us out of Mizraim from the
ON EXODUS.
375
XIII.]
house of servitude. And it was when Pharoh was
obdurate about letting us go away that the Lord slew
all the firstborn in the land of Mizraim, from the first¬
born of man to the firstborn of cattle : therefore I sacri¬
fice before the Lord of all that openeth the womb, the
males, and all the firstborn of my children I ransom.
And it shall be for a sign upon thy hand and for
Tephillin between thine eyes, because with a mighty
hand hath the Lord brought thee out of Mizraim.
SECTION XYI.
BESHALLACH.
And it was when Pharoh had sent the people away,
that the Lord led them not by the way of the land of
the Philistaee because it was the nearest : for the Lord
said, Lest the people be terrified at the seeing of war,
and return to Mizraim. But the Lord led the people
round by the way of the desert to the sea of Suph ;
and harnessed (or girded) went the sons of Israel up
out of the land of Mizraim. And Mosheh brought up
the bones of Joseph with him; for he had adjured the
sons of Israel with an oath, saying, Kemembering, the
Lord will remember you, and you shall carry up my
bones from hence. And they journeyed from Sukkoth,
and encamped in Etham, which is beside the desert.
And the Lord went before them by day in the column
of the cloud to lead them in the way, and by night in
the column of fire to enlighten them, that they might
go in the day and in the night. The column of the
cloud by day, nor the column of the fire by night,
departed not before the people.
376
TAUGUM OF ONKELOS
[CHAP.
And the Lord spake to Mosheh, saying, Speak with
the sons of Israel that they return and encamp before
Pum Hiratha, between Migdol and the sea, before Beel
Zephon : you shall encamp before it by the sea. And
Pharoh will say of the children of Israel, They are
bewildered in the land, the desert hath got hold of
them : 8 and I will harden Pharoh's heart, and he will
pursue them ; and I will be glorified in Pharoh and in
all his host ; and the Mizraee shall know that I am the
Lord. And they did so. And it was seen by the king
of Mizraim that the people had gone. And the heart
of Pharoh and of his servants was turned to the people ;
and they said, What is this that we have done, that we
have sent Israel away from serving us ? And he set
his chariot in order, and took his people with him.
He took also six hundred select chariots, and all the
chariots of the Mizraee, and appointed strong men over
them. And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharoh
king of Mizraim, and he pursued after the children of
Israel. But the children of Israel went forth with
uncovered head. And the Mizraee followed after them,
and overtook them while encamping by the sea ; all the
chariot horses of Pharoh, and his horsemen, and his
army, by Pum Hiratha which is before Beel Zephon.
And Pharoh drew nigh, and the sons of Israel lifted up
their eyes, and, behold, the Mizraee were coming after
them : and they were greatly afraid, and the children
of Israel cried before the Lord. But to Mosheh they
said, Was it because there were no graves in Mizraim
that thou hast taken us to die in the wilderness?
What is this that thou hast done to bring us out of
Mizraim? Was not this the word which we spake,
with thee in Mizraim, saying, Let us alone, and we will
serve the Mizraee ? for better would it have been for us
8 Sam. Vers., “ hath covered them.”
ON EXODUS.
377
XIV.]
to serve the Mizraee, than to die in the wilderness. And
Mosheh said to the people, Pear not, stand still (or, be
ready) and see the Lord's deliverance which He will
work for you this day ; for as you have seen the
Mizraee this day, you will see them no more for ever : the
Lord will fight for you the fight, and you shall be quiet.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, I have heard thy prayer.
Speak to the children of Israel that they go onward :
and thou, take thy rod and stretch forth thy hand over
the sea, and divide it, and the children of Israel shall go
in the midst of the sea on dry ground. And I, behold,
I will harden the hearts of the Mizraee, and they will go
in after them ; and I will be glorified by Pharoh and by
all his army, by his chariots and his horsemen ; 9 and
the Mizraee shall know that I am the Lord, when I have
been glorified by Pharoh and his chariots and his
horsemen.9
And the angel of the Lord who went before the camp
of Israel passed by and came behind them ; and the
column of the cloud passed from before them and abode
behind them. And it entered between the camp of the
Mizraee and the camp of Israel ; and was a cloud and
darkness to the Mizraee, but unto Israel a light all the
night : and that came not near to this all the night.
And Mosheh stretched forth his hand over the sea ;
and the Lord drave the sea by a mighty east wind all
the night, and caused the sea to be dry, and the waters
were disparted ; and the children of Israel went into the
midst of the sea upon dry ground ; and the waters were
to them a wall10 on their right hand and on their left.
And the Mizraee followed and entered in after them,
all the horses of Pharoh, and his chariots and horsemen,
into the midst of the sea. And it was in the morning
watch that the Lord looked upon the host of the Mizraee
9 Sam. Vers., “footmen.” 10 Sam. Vers., “a munition.”
378 TARGTJM OF ONXELOS [CHAP.
from the column of fire and cloud, and perturbed the
host of the Mizraee. And he removed the wheels of the
chariots, so that they drave them by strength ; 1 and the
Mizraee said, Let us flee from before Israel ; for this is
the power of the Lord which hath done battle for them
against Mizraim.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Stretch forth thy hand
over the sea, and the waters shall return upon the
Mizraee, upon their chariots and their horsemen. And
Mosheh stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea
returned, at the time of the morning, unto its strength ;
and the Mizraee fled before it ; and the Lord drowned
the Mizraee in the midst of the sea. And the waters
returned and covered the chariots and horsemen and all
the host of Pharoh who had gone after them into the
sea, and there remained of them not one. But the
children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of
the sea ; and the waters were a wall to them on their
right hand and on their left. And the Lord delivered
Israel that day from the Mizraee, and Israel saw the
Mizraee dead upon the shore of the sea. And Israel
saw the Power of the Great Hand which the Lord had
made (to appear) in Mizraim ; and the people feared
before the Lord, and believed in the Word of the Lord,
and in the prophetic (work) of Mosheh His servant.
Then sang Mosheh and the children of Israel this
hymn before the Lord; and they spake, saying, We
will sing and give thanks before the Lord, because He
is magnified upon the mighty, and the power is His
own ; the horse and his rider hath He cast into the sea.
My strength and my song3 is the terrible Lord; He
hath said by His Word that He will be mine to redeem.
This is my God, and I will build Him a sanctuary ; the
God of my fathers, and I will worship before Him. The
1 Or, “ with difficulty.” 2 Sam. Vers., “ my portion.”
ON EXODUS.
379
XV.]
Lord is the Lord of Victory in battles, the Lord is His
Name. The chariots of Pharoh and his horses He hath
cast into the sea, his chosen warriors are drowned in the
sea of Suph. The depths covered them over, they went
down to the bottom as a stone. Thy right hand, 0 Lord,
is illustrious in power; Thy right hand, 0 Lord, shattereth
the adversary ; and in the greatness of Thy might Thou
hast broken down them who arose against Thy people.
Thou didst send forth Thy wrath, and it consumed them
as stubble in the flame, and by the word of Thy mouth
the waters, (as if) wise, stood up like a wall ; the depths
were congealed in the heart of the sea. The adversary
said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the
spoil; my soul shall be satisfied upon them; I will
draw my sword, and my hand shall destroy them. Thou
didst speak by Thy Word, the sea covered them over,
they sank like lead in the mighty waters. There is none
beside Thee, O God, (who art) glorious in holiness,
fearful in praises, doing wonders. Thou didst uplift
Thy right hand, the earth swallowed them up. Thou
hast led forth in goodness Thy people whom Thou hast
redeemed ; Thou wilt bring them by Thy strength to the
dwelling of Thy holiness. The nations will hear it, and
be moved ; terror will seize on the inhabiters of Pela-
sheth ; then will the princes of Edom be alarmed, the
strong ones of Moab will be seized with trembling, and
they who dwell in Kenaan will be broken down. Fear
and dread will fall upon them, by the greatness of Thy
power they will be silent as a stone, until Thy people, O
Lord, pass over Arnona, until Thy people whom Thou
hast redeemed pass over Jardena. Thou wilt bring
them in, and cause them to dwell in the mountain of
Thine inheritance, in the place wrhich Thou hast ordained
for the house of Thy Shekina, the sanctuary which Thy
hands, O Lord, have prepared. The kingdom of the
380 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
Lord endureth for ever, and for ever, evermore ! Because,
when the horses of Pharoh with his chariots and his
horsemen had entered into the sea, the Lord caused the
waters of the sea to return upon them, and the children
of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea.
And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aharon, took
the timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out
after her with timbrels and choruses. And Miriam
answered them : Sing and give thanks before the Lord,
for He hath magnified Himself upon the proud : and
the majesty belongeth (only) unto Him ; the horse and
his rider hath He cast into the sea.
And Mosheh caused Israel to remove from the sea of
Suph, and they went forth into the desert of Chagra,
and went three days in the desert, but found no water.
And they came to Marah, and could not drink the
waters of Marah because they were bitter; therefore he
called the name of it Marah. And the people were
fretful against Mosheh, saying, What shall we drink ?
And he prayed before the Lord ; and the Lord instructed
him (in the properties of) a tree, and he cast it into the
waters, and the waters became sweet. There decreed He
a statute, and a judgment, and there He tried him. And
He said, If hearkening thou wilt hearken unto the Word
of the Lord thy God, and wilt do what is right in His
eyes, and wilt listen to His precepts and keep all His
statutes, none of the maladies which I have set upon
Mizraim will I put upon thee ; for I am the Lord thy
Healer.
And they came to Elim, and there were twelve wells
of water and seventy palm trees ; and they encamped
there before the waters. And they journeyed from Elim,
and came, the whole assembly of the sons of Israel, to the
desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the
fifteenth day of the second month from their outgoing
ON EXODUS.
381
XVI.]
from the land of Mizraim. And all the congregation of
the children of Israel were troublous against Moslieh and
against Aharon in the desert ; and the children of Israel
said to them, 0 that we bad died before the Lord in the
land of Mizraim, when we sat by the caldrons of flesh,
and could eat bread and be satisfied ! Why have you
brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole
assembly with famine ?
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Behold, I will cause
bread to come down to you from heaven; and the people
shall go out and collect the matter of the day for the
day; that I may prove them whether they will walk in
My law, or not. And in the sixth day, when they
prepare that which they bring in, it shall be two for one
upon what they collect from day to day. And Mosheh
and Aharon said to all the children of Israel, In the
evening you shall know that the Lord brought you out
of the land of Mizraim, and in the morning shall you
see the Glory of the Lord ; for your tumults are heard
before the Lord : and we — what, that you are restive
against us? And Mosheh said, When the Lord will
give you at evening flesh to eat, and bread in the
morning to satisfy, while are heard before the Lord
your tumults against Him ! Bor what are we ? your
tumults are not against us, but against the Word of the
Lord. And Mosheh said to Aharon, Bid all the con¬
gregation of the sons of Israel to come together before
the Lord ; for your tumult is heard before the Lord.3
And it was, while Aharon was speaking with all the
congregation of the sons of Israel, that they turned
towards the desert, and, behold, the glory of the Lord
was revealed in the cloud.
And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying, The
tumult of the children of Israel is heard before Me.
3 Other copies, “ before Him.”
382 TAUGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
Speak with them to say, Between the evenings you shall
eat flesh, and in the morning be satisfied with bread,
and you shall know that I am the Lord your God.
And it was in the evening that the quails came up and
covered the camp ; and in the morning a dew descended
round about the camp ; and when the dew which had
fallen had gone up, behold, upon the face of the desert,
a small (substance) without covering,4 small like hoar
frost, heaped on the earth. And the sons of Israel
saw, and said, a man to his brother, Mana-hu ! for they
knew not what it was. And Mosheh said to them.
This is the bread which the Lord will give you to eat.
This is the word that the Lord hath commanded : Let
every man* gather of it according to his eating 6 an
omera for every head according to the number of your
souls, a man for those of his tent shall you take. And
the sons of Israel did so, and gathered, some more,
(others) less ; and they measured with an omera, — and
he who had (gathered) much had not more, and he who
had (gathered) little had not less ; every man according
to his eating* they gathered. And Mosheh said to
them, No man must leave of it for the morning. But
they hearkened not to Mosheh, but some left for the
morning, and it swarmed worms and corrupted. And
Mosheh was angry with them. And they gathered it
from morning to morning a man according to his
eating; and when the sun grew hot on that which
remained upon the face of the field, it melted. And it
was that on the sixth day they gathered a double
(quantity) of bread, 7 two omers for one : and all the
chiefs of the congregation came and showed Mosheh.
And he said to them, To-morrow is the rest of the holy
Shabbath before the Lord. That which you prepare
4 Or, “peeled.” Sam. Vers., “shining.” 5 Sam. Vers., "ashes.”
8 Or, “ the mouth of his eating.” 7 Or, “ bread for one, two.”
XVII.] ON EXODUS. 383
by baking, bake, and that which you prepare by boiling,
boil, and all the remainder lay up to you, a store for
the morning. And they laid it up till the morning, as
Mosheh had instructed ; and it did not corrupt, neither
were there worms in it. And Mosheh said, Eat that to¬
day, for this day is Shabbath before the Lord ; this day
you would not find it in the field. Six days you shall
collect it ; but on the seventh day, the Shabbath, there
will be none. And it was on the seventh day that some
of the people went out to gather, but they found it not.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, How long will you be
unwilling to keep My commandments and My laws?
See, because the Lord hath given you the Shabbath He
hath therefore given you on the sixth day the bread for
two days ; let every man dwell in his resting, and not
go out from his place on the seventh day. And the
people reposed on the seventh day. And the house of
Israel called the name of it Manna ; and it was as the
seed of Gida 8 white, and its taste was like cake broiled
with honey. And Mosheh said, This is the word which
the Lord hath commanded. Eill an omera of it to be
kept for your generations, that they may see the bread
which I made you eat in the desert when I brought you
forth from the land of Mizraim. And Mosheh said to
Aharon, Take one vase, and* put therein an omera full
of manna, and lay it up before the Lord to be preserved
for your generations. As the Lord commanded, so did
Mosheh ; and Aharon laid it up before the Testimony,
to keep. And the children of Israel ate the manna
forty years, until they came to the land inhabited;
they did eat the manna till they came to the confines of
the land of Kenaan. And one omera is the tenth of
three seahs.
XVII. And all the congregation of the children of
8 Heb., Gid, “coriander.” Sam. Vers., “rice.”
384 TAEGUM OP ONKELOS [CHAP.
Israel journeyed from the desert of Sin, according to
their itinerations by the Word of the Lord; and they
encamped in Repliidim : but the people had no water to
drink ; and the people were contentious with Mosheh,
and said, Give us water that we may drink. And
Mosheh said, Why do you contend with me ? why do
you tempt before the Lord ? But the people thirsted
there for water, and the people were turbulent against
Mosheh, and said, Why is this, — to have brought us
from Mizraim, to kill me and my children and my cattle
with thirst? And Mosheh prayed before the Lord,
saying, What shall I do with this people ? Yet a little,
and they will stone me ! And the Lord said to Mosheh,
Pass over before the people, and take with thee of the
elders of Israel, and thy rod wherewith thou didst
smite the river take in thy hand, and go. Behold, I
will stand before thee there, upon the rock in Horeb,
and thou shalt smite the rock, and water shall come out
of it, that the people may drink. And Mosheh did so
in the eyes of the elders of Israel. And he called the
name of the place. Temptation and Strife, because of
the striving of the sons of Israel, and because they
tempted before the Lord, saying, Is the Majesty of the
Lord among us, or not ?
And Amaleq came, and Warred battle with Israel in
Rephidim. And Mosheh said to Jehoshua, Choose for
us men, and go forth and do battle with Amaleq. To¬
morrow I will stand on the top of the hill, and the rod
with which the miracles are wrought from before the
Lord shall be in my hand. And Jehoshua did as
Mosheh had said to him, and he did battle with
Amaleq. And Mosheh, Aharon, and Hur ascended to
the top of the hill. And it was that when Mosheh
lifted up his hand, the house of Israel prevailed ; and
when he let down his hand, the house of Amaleq
XVITI.] ON EXODUS. 385
prevailed. But the hands of Mosheh became heavy,
and they took a stone and placed it under him, and he
sat upon it, and Aharon and Hur held up his hands,
here one, and there one ; and thus were his hands
stretched out in prayer until the going of the sun.
And Jehoshua shattered Amaleq and his people with
the edge of the sword. And the Lord said to Mosheh :
Write this memorial in the Book, and set it before
Jehoshua, — That blotting, I will blot out the memorial
of Amaleq from under the heavens. And Mosheh
builded an altar, and ministered upon it before the
Lord who had wrought (such) miracles for him. And
he said, With an oath hath this been declared from
before the Tearful One whose Shekinah is upon His
glorious throne; that war shall be waged with the
house of Amaleq, to destroy it from the generations of
the world.
SECTION XVII.
YETHRO.
XVIII. And Jethro, the rabba of Midian, the
father-in-law of Mosheh, had heard of all that the Lord
had done for Mosheh and for Israel His people, and that
the Lord had brought Israel out of Mizraim. And
Jethro, MoshelTs father-in-law, took Zipporah the wife
of Mosheh, after he had let her go, and his two sons,
the name of the one Gershom ; Eor, he said, I have been
a sojourner in a strange land; and the name of the
other Eliezer ; Eor (said he) the God of my fathers hath
s
386 TARGUH OF 0NKEL08 [CHAP.
been my helper, and hath delivered me from the sword
of Pharoli. And Jethro the father-in-law of Mosheh
came, and his sons, and his wife, to Mosheh in the
desert where he had encamped at the mountain upon
which was revealed the glory of the Lord. And he had
told Mosheh, I, thy father-in-law Jethro, come to thee
with thy wife, and her two sons with her. And Mosheh
went forth to meet his father-in-law, and bowed, and
kissed him, and each saluted the other with peace ; and
they entered the tabernacle. And Mosheh recounted
to his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to
Pharoh and to Mizraim for IsraePs sake; and all the
tribulation that they had found upon the way, and how
the Lord had delivered them. And Jethro was glad
over all the good which the Lord, who had saved him
from the hand of Mizraim, had wrought for Israel.
And Jethro said. Blessed be the Lord, who hath
delivered you out of the hand of the Mizraee, and out
of the hand of Pharoh, and hath delivered the people
from under the domination of the Mizraee. Now know
I that the Lord is great, and that there is no God but
He for by the thing by which the Mizraee had thought
to punish (judge) Israel, they themselves are punished.
And Jethro the father-in-law of Mosheh offered a burnt
offering and sacrificed holy things before the Lord.
And Aharon came, with all the elders of Israel, to eat
bread with the father-in-law of Mosheh before the Lord.
And on the day after, Mosheh sat to judge the
people, and the people stood about Mosheh from morn
till evening ; and the father-in-law of Mosheh observed
all that he did to the people. And he said. What thing
is this that thou art doing to the people ? Why dost
thou sit alone, with all the people standing about thee
from morn till evening? And Mosheh said to his
father-in-law, Because the people come to me to ask
XVIII.] ON EXODUS. 387
instruction from before the Lord. When they have (a
matter) for judgment they come to me, and I adjudicate
between a man and his neighbour, and make them to
know the statutes of the Lord, and His laws. But the
father-in-law of Mosheh said to him, The thing thou art
doing is not right ; with weariness thou wilt be weary,
thou and also this people who are with thee; for the
thing is too weighty for thee, thou art not able to do it
by thyself. Now hearken to me, I will give thee
counsel, and the Word of the Lord shall be thy helper.
Be thou for the people the seeker of instruction from
the presence of the Lord, to bring the matters before
the Lord : and thou shalt admonish them in the statutes
and the laws, and make them know the way in which to
walk, and the work that must be done. And thou,
look out from the whole people men of ability who fear
the Lord, men of truth who abhor to take mammon ;
and superappoint them chiefs of thousands, and chiefs of
hundreds, and chiefs of fifties, and chiefs of tens. And
they shall judge the people at any time, and every great
matter they shall bring to thee, but every small thing
they shall judge; and they will lighten it from thee, and
bear it with thee. If thou wilt do this, and the Lord
teach thee, thou wilt be able to endure, and (of) all this
people (every one) will go to his place in peace. And
Mosheh hearkened to his father-in-law, and did all that
he had said. And Mosheh chose men of ability from
all Israel, and appointed them heads over the people;
chiefs 9 of thousands, chiefs of hundreds, chiefs of fifties,
and chiefs of tens ; and they judged the people at all
times ; a weighty thing they brought to Mosheh, and
every minor thing they judged themselves. And
Mosheh sent his father-in-law away, and he went unto-
his land.
9 Sam. Vers., “ scribes.”
s 2
388 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
XIX. In the third month 1 of the outgoing of the
sons of Israel from the land of Mizraim, on that day
came they to the desert of Sinai. And they journeyed
from Rephidim, and came to the desert of Sinai, and
dwelt there by the side of the mountain. And Mosheh
ascended before the Lord. And the Lord called to him
from the mount, saying. As thus thou shalt speak to the
house of Jakob, and show to the sons of Israel : You
have seen what I did to the Mizraee, and how I bare
you as on eagles’ wings, and brought you nigh to serve
Me : and now, if hearkening you will hearken to My
Word, and will keep My covenant, you, before Me, shall
be more beloved than all peoples ; for all the earth is
Mine. And you, before Me, shall be kings (and) priests,
a holy people. These are the words which thou shalt
speak with the sons of Israel. And Mosheh came, and
called the elders 2 of the people, and set all these words
in order before them, as the Lord had instructed him.
And all the people responded together, and said, All
that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Mosheh
brought back the words of the people before the Lord.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Behold, I will be revealed
to thee in the darkness of the cloud, that the people may
hear, in My speaking with thee, and also that they may
confide in thee for ever. And Mosheh showed the
words of the people before the Lord. And the Lord
said to Mosheh, Go unto the people and prepare them,
to-day and to-morrow, and let them purify 3 their
clothing ; and be ready for the third day ; for on the
third day the Lord will be revealed in the eyes of all the
people upon mount Sinai. And thou shalt set a limit
for the people round about, saying, Beware you of going
up on the mountain, or of approaching the border of it.
Whoever approaches the mountain, slain he shall be
1 Sivan. * Sam. Vers., “ wise men.” 8 Sam. Vers., “ make white.”
ON EXODUS.
389
XIX.]
slain. No hand shall touch him; for stoned he shall be
stoned, or pierced he shall be pierced ; whether beast
or man, he shall not live. When the trumpet is pro¬
longed they shall be allowed to go forward to the mount.
And Mosheh came down from the mountain unto the
people, and prepared the people, and they made white
their clothes. And he said to the people. Be ready on
the third day, approach not to a woman. And it was
the third day 4 at morning; and there were voices, and
lightnings, and mighty clouds upon the mountain, and
the voice of the trumpet exceedingly strong ; and all the
people trembled who were in the camp. And Mosheh
led forth the people out of the camp to meet the Word
of the Lord ; and they stood at the lower parts of the
mount. And the mountain of Sinai was altogether
fuming from before the revelation of the Lord upon it
in fire ; and the smoke went up as the smoke of a
furnace, and the whole mount trembled greatly. But
when the voice of the trumpet went forth and became
exceedingly strong, Mosheh spake, and from the presence
of the Lord he was answered by a voice. And the
Lord was revealed upon mount Sinai, on the head of
the mountain ; and the Lord called Mosheh unto the
head of the mount ; and Mosheh went up. And the
Lord said to Mosheh, Go down, warn the people lest
they break through before the Lord to see, and many of
them fall. And let the priests also, who are to minister
before the Lord, sanctify themselves, lest the Lord slay
them. And Mosheh spake before the Lord, The people
are not able to come up to mount Sinai ; for Thou hast
warned us, saying, Set a boundary to the mountain, and
sanctify it. But the Lord said to him. Go, descend,
and come up, thou and Aharon with thee ; but let not
the priests nor the people break through to come up
4 Sixth of Sivan.
390 TAEGU M OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
before the Lord, lest He slay them. And Mosheh went
down to the people, and spake with them.
XX. And the Lord spake all these words, saying, I
am the Lord thy God, who have brought thee out of the
land of Mizraim, out of the house of servitude. Thou
shalt have no other God beside Me. Thou shalt not
make to thee image nor likeness of any thing that is in
the heavens above, nor in the earth beneath, nor in the
waters under the earth : thou shalt not worship them
nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous
God ; visiting the sins of the fathers upon the rebellious
children, unto the third generation and to the fourth
generation of those who hate Me ; while the children
continue (or complete) to sin after their fathers ; but
doing good to thousands of generations of those who
love Me and keep My commandments. Thou shalt not
swear in the name of the Lord thy God vainly ; for the
Lord will not acquit him who sweareth in His Name
with falsity. Remember the day of Shabbatha to
sanctify it. Six days shalt thou do service and do all
thy work ; but the seventh day is Shabbath before the
Lord thy God. Thou shalt not do every work ; thou,
nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy servant nor thy
handmaid, nor thy cattle, nor thy sojourner who is in
thy city.5 Tor in six days the Lord made the heavens
and the earth, the seas and all that is in them, and
rested on the seventh day ; wherefore the Lord blessed
the day of Shabbatha, and sanctified it. Honour thy
father and thy mother, that thy days may be prolonged
upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth to thee.
Thou shalt not kill life. Thou shalt not commit
adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not testify
against thy neighbour a testimony of falsehood. Thou
shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house ; thou shalt not
5 Sam. Vers., “thy cities.”
ON EXODUS.
391
XX.]
covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his servant, nor his
handmaid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is
thy neighbour's.
And all the people saw the thunders, and the flames,
and the voice of the trumpet, and the mountain
smoking; and the people saw, and trembled, and stood
afar off. And they said to Mosheh, Speak thou with
us, and we will hearken ; but let it not be spoken to us
from before the Lord, lest we die, Aud Mosheh said
to the people, Fear not ; for that He may prove you He
hath revealed to you the glory of the Lord, and that
His fear may be before your face, that you may not sin.
And the people stood afar off, but Mosheh drew nigh to
the darkness where was the glory of the Lord.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Thus shalt thou speak
to the children of Israel; You have seen that I have
spoken to you from the heavens. You shall not make
before Me idols of silver, neither idols of gold shall you
make to you. An altar of earth shalt thou make
before Me, and shalt sacrifice upon it thy burnt offer¬
ings and thy sanctified victims, thy sheep and thy oxen.
In every place where I may cause My Shekinah to
dwell, thither will I send My blessing, and will bless
thee. And if thou wilt make Me an altar of stone
before Me, thou shalt not build it with hewn stones,
lest thou lift up thy cutting-tool 6 upon it and profane
it. And thou shalt not ascend by steps to My altar,
that thy nakedness may not be discerned upon it.
6 Lit., “ thy sword.”
39 Z
TAEGUM OF ONKELOS
[chap.
SECTION XVIII.
MISHPATIM.
And these are the judgments which thou shalt set in
order before them. When thou dost purchase a ser¬
vant, a son of Israel, six years he shall serve, and in
the seventh go forth free, for nothing. If he came in alone,
he shall go out alone ; if the husband of a wife, his
wife shall go out with him. If his master have given
him a wife, and she have borne him sons or daughters,
the wife and the children are the master's, and he shall
go out alone. But if the servant saying shall say, I
love my master, my wife and my children, I will not
go out free; his master shall bring him before the
judges, and shall take him to the door, even to the
post, and his master shall bore his ear with an awl ;
and he shall be to him a working servant for ever.
And when a man selleth his daughter to be a hand¬
maid, she shall not go out as at the outgoing of the
men servants. If she be evil in the eyes of the master
who had covenanted with her to be his, then shall he
make her free; to another man he shall not have
ability to sell her to domineer over her. And if he
hath covenanted her to his son, after the custom of the
daughters of Israel shall he act towards her. And if
he take another to him, her food, her raiment, and her
marriage due he shall not restrain. And if these three
he doth not perform to her, he shall release her freely
without money.
Whosoever striketh a man and killeth him, being
killed he shall be killed. But if it was not (done)
covertly to him, but he was delivered into his hand
ON EXODUS.
393
XXI.]
from before the Lord, then I will appoint thee a place
whither he may flee. But when a wicked, man acts
toward his neighbour with deceitfulness to kill him,
even from Mine altar thou shalt bring him awray to put
him to death. Whosoever striketh his father or his
mother shall be surely put to death. And whosoever
stealeth a soul of the house of Israel and selleth him,
or if he be found in his hand, shall be surely put to
death. And he who curseth his father or his mother
shall surely be put to death. And when men contend,
and a man smiteth his neighbour with a stone or with
his fist, and he die not, but fall upon his bed ; — if he
rise (again) and wralk about upon his staff, he who
smote him shall be acquitted ; only he shall make good
his loss of labour, and defray the charge of the
physician.
And when a man smiteth his servant or his hand¬
maid with a staff, and he die under his hand, con¬
demned he shall be condemned. But if he survive one
day, or two, he shall not be condemned, because he was
his money. If men contending strike a woman with
child and she miscarry, but die not, fined he shall be
fined, as the husband of the woman may set upon him,
and he shall give according to the sentence of judg¬
ment. But if death take place, thou shalt give life for
life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for
foot, burning for burning, wmund for wound, bruise for
bruise. And if a man smite the eye of his servant or
his handmaid and destroy it, he shall let him go free,
for the sake of his eye. Or if he beat out (cause to
fall) a tooth of his servant or a tooth of his handmaid,
he shall let him go free for the sake of his tooth.
If an ox gore a man or woman unto death, the ox
being stoned shall be stoned, and his flesh must not be
eaten ; but the master of the ox shall be acquitted,
s 5
394 TAUGUM 01' 0NKEL0S [CHAP.
But if the ox had gored in time before (yesterday and
the day before), and it had been attested to his master,
and he not keeping him he hath killed man or woman,
the ox shall be stoned and the owner be put to death.
If a fine of money7 (if mammon) be laid upon him, he
may give redemption for his life according to all that is
laid upon him. If the ox gore a son or daughter of
Israel, after this judgment shall it be done to him. If
an ox gore a man-servant or a maidservant, (the owner)
shall give to his master thirty sileen of silver, and the
ox shall be stoned.
And if a man open a pit, or dig a pit, and doth not
cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein, the master of
the pit shall pay : he shall give silver to his owner, and
the carcass shall be his own. And if the ox of one
man hurt a neighbour's ox that it die, they shall sell
the living ox and divide the money ; and that which is
dead they shall also divide. But if it be known that
the ox gored in time past and his owner did not keep
him in, paying he shall pay ox for ox, and the dead one
shall be his. If a man steal an ox or a lamb, and kill
or sell it, he shall repay five oxen for the ox, and four
sheep for the lamb.
XXII. If a thief be found breaking through, and he
be smitten and die, there shall be no blood due to him.
If the eyes of witnesses fall upon him, blood shall be
due to him, paying he shall pay. If he have nothing,
he shall be sold for his robbery. If the thing stolen,
from an ox to an ass, be found in his possession, they
being alive, he shall restore two for one. If a man
make waste a field or vineyard, or send his cattle to
consume another's field, the best of his field and the
best of his vineyard he shall restore. If fire break out,
and it find thorns, so that sheaves or standing corn or
7 Sam. Vers., " If a price of eipiation.”
ON EXODUS.
XXII.]
395
the field be consumed, he who kindled the fire paying
shall pay.
When a man giveth his neighbour silver or vessels
to keep, and they be stolen from the man's house ; if
the thief be found, he shall repay double. If the thief
be not found, the master of the house shall be brought
before the judges (to make oath) that he hath not put
forth his hand upon that which his neighbour had
delivered to him. Upon every matter of guiltiness
about ox or ass or lamb, or raiment, or anything de¬
stroyed of which it may be said, This is it, the cause of
both shall be brought before the judges, and he whom
the judges shall condemn shall pay double to his neigh¬
bour. If a man deliver to his neighbour an ass or an
ox or a lamb or any cattle to keep, and it die, or be
injured, or be carried away, no one seeing ; an oath of the
Lord shall be between them that he hath not put forth his
hand against that which his neighbour had delivered, and
the owner shall accept the oath, and he shall not repay.
But if it be stolen from him, he shall repay its owner ;
and if it be torn, and he bring witnesses that it was
torn, he shall not repay. And if a man borrow of his
neighbour and it be injured or die, the owner of it not
being with it, repaying he shall repay. But if the
owner be with it, he shall not repay. If it were hired,
let it be (considered) for its hire.
And if a man seduce a virgin who is not betrothed
and lie with her, he shall surely establish her to be his
wife. If her father be unwilling to give her to him, he
shall weigh down silver according to the dowry of
virgins. An enchantress 8 shall not live. Whosoever
lieth with a beast shall be surely put to death. Who¬
soever sacrificeth to the idols of the Gentiles shall be
put to death : — but to the Name of the Lord alone,
8 Sam. Vers., “ a pythoness.”
396 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
And a stranger thou shalt not trouble nor oppress ;
for you were sojourners in the land of Mizraim.
Afflict not the widow or the orphan : if you indeed
afflict them, and they cry before Me, I will surely
hearken to their cry; and My displeasure shall be
strong, and will kill you with the sword; and your
wives shall be widows and your children fatherless. If
thou lend money to My people, to the poor who is with
thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer,9 neither
shalt thou inflict an injury upon him. If, (as) a
pledge, thou take thy neighbour’s garment, at the going
away of the sun thou shalt return it unto him. For it
may be his only covering ; for (then) it is the clothing
for his skin : wherein shall he sleep? And it shall be
that when he crieth before Me I will hearken ; for I am
merciful.
Thon shalt not revile the judges, nor curse the ruler
of My people. Thy firstfruits and thy tithes thou shalt
not delay (to offer :) the firstborn of thy children thou
shalt separate before Me; so shalt thou do with thy
oxen and with thy sheep. Seven days shall (the first¬
ling) be with its mother ; on the eighth day thou shalt
separate it before Me. And ye shall be holy men
before Me ; and the flesh torn from a living animal you
may not eat ; you shall cast it to the dogs.
Thou shalt not take up a false report, nor set thine
hand with the wicked to be a false witness for him.
Thou shalt not follow the many to wickedness, neither
shalt thou fail to teach that which in thine eyes is judg¬
ment ; 1 after the many (majority ?) thou shalt fulfil
judgment. And upon the poor thou shalt not be
pitiful in judging him.
If thou meet the ox of thy enemy, or his ass, wan-
9 Sam. Vera., “ an exactor.”
1 Other copies, “ what thou hast sought out concerning judgment.”
XXIII.] ON EXODUS. 397
dering away, thou shalt surely bring it back to him.
When thou seest thine enemy’s ass prostrate beneath
his burden, thou shalt forbear from forsaking him ; 2
thou shalt surely abandon what is in thy heart against
him, and shalt deliver it unto him. Thou shalt not
warp the judgment of the poor man in his cause.
From a false matter keep distant ; and him who
has been acquitted and has come forth from judg¬
ment uncondemned thou shalt not kill ; for I will not
justify the guilty. And thou art not to receive a
bribe ; for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise, and
perverts the words of the just. And thou shalt not
distress the sojourner; for you know the mind of a
sojourner ; for you were dwellers in the land of Mizraim.
Six years thou shalt sow the land and gather in its
produce, but the seventh year thou shalt let it alone
and suffer it to rest, that the poor of thy people may
eat, and what they leave the beast of the field may eat.
So also shalt thou do with thy vineyard and with thy
olive ground. Six days shalt thou do thy work, and in
the seventh day have rest, that thy ox and thy ass may
rest, and the son of thine handmaid and thy sojourner
may be quiet. And of all that I have spoken to you
be mindful, and the name of the idols of the Gentiles
remember not ; let it not be heard upon thy lips.
Three times thou shalt solemnize festival before Me
in the year. Thou shalt keep the festival of unlea¬
vened bread. Seven days shalt thou eat unleavened
cake, as I have commanded thee, in the time of the
moon of Abiba, for therein you went forth from Miz¬
raim ; and you shall not appear before Me empty. And
the festival of harvest, the first fruits of thy labours
which thou hast sowed in thy fields ; and the festival of
gathering, at the end of the year when thou gatherest
2 Sam. Vers., “ wilt thou turn away to abandon him ? ”
398 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
in thy labours from the field. Three times in the year
shall all thy males appear before the Lord, the Euler of
the world. Thou shalt not offer with unleavened bread
the blood of My pascha, neither shall the fat of the
sacrifice of the feast remain without on the altar until
morning. The beginning of the first fruits of thy land
thou shalt bring into the sanctuary of the Lord thy
God. Thou shalt not eat flesh with milk.
Behold, I send My Angel3 before thee, to protect
thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which
I have prepared. Take heed before Him, and hearken
to His words ; rebel not against Him, for He will not
forgive your sins ; for in My Name are His words.
For if thou wilt truly hearken to His words, and do all
that I shall speak, I will be a foe to thy enemies, and
will afflict them that afflict thee. For My Angel shall
go before thee, and bring thee in, to the Amoraee and
Hittaee, and Perizaee and Kenaanaee, Hivaee and
Jebusaee ; and I will destroy them. Thou shalt not
worship their idols, nor serve them, nor do according to
their doings, but shalt utterly demolish them, and break
their images ; and you shall serve before the Lord your
God, and He will bless thy food and thy drink, and will
take away grievous evils from among thee. There shall
be none abortive or barren in thy land ; the number of
thy days will I complete. I will send My terror'before
thee, and will perturb all the people among whom thou
shalt come to fight against them, and I will make all
thy adversaries turn their back before thee. I will send
the hornet before thee, and it shall drive out the Hivaee
and Kenaanaee and the Hittaee from before thee. I
will not expel them before thee in one year, lest the
land be made desolate, and the beasts of the field
multiply against thee. By little and little I will drive
3 Sam. Yers., shelachi, “ my apostle.”
XXIV.] ON EXODUS. 399
them out before thee, until thou shalt be increased and
inherit the land. And I will appoint thy boundary
from the sea of Suph unto the sea of the Philistaee, and
from the desert to the river ; for I will deliver the
inhabitants of the land into your hands, and thou shalt
drive them out before thee. Thou shalt strike no
covenant with them nor with their idols. They shall
not dwell in thy land, lest they cause thee to commit
sin before Me ; for if thou serve their idols, it will be a
stumbling-block to thee.
XXIY. And He said to Mosheh, Come up before
the Lord, thou and Aharon, Nadab and Abihu, and
seventy of the elders of Israel; and they shall worship
at a distance. And Mosheh shall draw nigh alone
before the Lord, but they shall not draw nigh, nor shall
the people ascend with them. And Mosheh came and
recited to the people all the words of the Lord and all
the judgments; and all the people answered with one
voice and said, All the words that the Lord hath
spoken will we do. And Mosheh wrote ail the words
of the Lord. And he arose in the morning, and
builded an altar at the lower part of the mountain, and
twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
And he sent the firstborn sons of Israel, and they
offered holocausts, and sacrificed oxen (as) consecrated
victims before the Lord. And Mosheh took half of the
blood and set it in basins, and half the blood he
sprinkled upon the altar. And he took the Book of
the Covenant, and read before the people ; and they
said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do and
obey. And Mosheh took the blood and sprinkled
it upon the altar to propitiate for the people, and said,
Behold the Blood of the Covenant which the Lord hath
ratified with you upon all these words.
And Mosheh and Aharon, Nadab and Abihu, and
400 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
seventy of the elders of Israel went up. And they saw
the Glory of the God of Israel, and under the throne of
His glory as the work of a precious stone, and as the
face of heaven for its clearness. Yet the princes of the
sons of Israel were not hurt ; and they saw the Glory of
the Lord, and rejoiced in their sacrifices which were
accepted with favour, as though they had eaten and
drunk. And the Lord said to Mosheh, Come up into My
Presence in the mountain, and be there, and 1 will give
thee the tablets of stone, and the law and the precepts,
as I have written (them), that thou mayest teach them.
And Mosheh arose and Jehoshua his minister, and
Mosheh ascended the mountain on which was revealed
the Glory of the Lord. But to the elders he said,
Wait for us here until we return to you: and, behold,
Aharon and Hur are with you : whosoever hath a
(matter for) judgment, let him bring it before them.
And Mosheh ascended the mountain, and the cloud
covered the mountain ; and the glory of the Lord dwelt
upon Mount Sinai, and the cloud enveloped it six days.
And He called to Mosheh on the seventh day out of the
midst of the cloud. And the appearance of the Glory
of the Lord was as the appearance of devouring fire on
the summit of the mountain in the eyes of the sons of
Israel. And Mosheh entered into the midst of the
cloud, and ascended the mount; and Mosheh was in
the mount forty day and forty nights.
XXV.]
ON EXODUS.
401
SECTION XIX.
TERUMAH.
XXV. And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying,
Speak with the sons of Israel that they set apart before
Me a separated portion : from every man who is will¬
ing in his heart thou shalt receive that which is set
apart. And this is the separation that thou shalt take
of them : gold, and silver and brass ; and hyacinth,
and purple, and vermilion, (lit., bright colour,) and fine
linen, ( butz ,) and hair of goats, and skins of rams made
red, and skins of purple, and sittin woods ; oil for the
illuminators, aromatics for the anointing oil, and aro¬
matics for the incense; burilla stones, and stones that
may complete the insetting of the ephod and the breast¬
plate. And they shall make before me a Sanctuary in
which I will dwell among them. Altogether as I show
thee the pattern of the sanctuary, and the pattern of all
its vessels, even so shalt thou make them.
And they shall make an Ark of sitta wood ; two
cubits and a half its length, and a cubit and a half its
breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. And thou
shalt cover it with pure gold within and without, and
thou shalt make a crown of gold upon it round about.
And thou shalt cast for it four rings of gold, and set
them upon its four corners, two rings upon one side of
it, and two rings upon its other side. And thou shalt
make staves of sittin woods, and cover them with gold,
and shalt insert the staves in the rings upon the sides
of the ark, that the ark may be carried upon them. 'In
the rings of the ark shall be the staves, they shall not
be removed therefrom. And thou shalt place in the
ark the Testimony that I will give thee.
402 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
And thou shalt make a Propitiatory of pure gold ;
two cubits and a half its length, and a cubit and a half
its breadth. And thou slialt make two Kerubin of
gold, beaten (ductile) shalt thou make them, on the two
sides of the propitiatory. And thou shalt make one
keruba on this side and one keruba on that side of the
propitiatory ; thou shalt make the kerubin on its two
sides. And the kerubin shall have their wings out¬
spreading above, overshadowing the propitiatory with
their wings ; and their faces shall be opposite one to
another, towards the propitiatory shall be the faces of
the kerubin. And thou shalt set the propitiatory upon
the Ark over above, and within the ark shalt thou put
the Testimony that I will give thee. And I will appoint
My Word (Memra) with thee there; and I will speak
with thee from above the Propitiatory, from between
the two kerubin that are upon the Ark of the Testimony,
all that I may command thee for the sons of Israel.
And thou shalt make a Table of sittin woods, two
cubits the length of it, and a cubit its breadth, and a
cubit and a half its height. And thou shalt overlay
it with pure gold, and make for it a crown of gold round
about. And thou shalt make to it a border, a hand-
breadth high round about, and make a crown of gold to
the border of it round about. And thou shalt make
for it four golden rings, and put the rings upon the
four corners of its four feet. Opposite to the border
shall be the rings for the place of the staves for carrying
the table. And thou shalt make the staves of sittin
woods, and cover them with gold, that they may carry
the table upon them. And thou shalt make its dishes
and its vases, its vials and its chalices with which the
libations are outpoured, of pure gold shalt thou make
them. And thou shalt set upon the table the Presence-
Bread continually before Me.
XXVI.] ON EXODUS. 403
And thou shalt make a Candelabrum ; of pure
ductile gold shalt thou make the candelabrum ; its base
and its shaft, its cups, apples, and lilies, of the same shall
they be. And six branches shall come out from its
sides, three branches of the candelabrum from one side,
and three branches of the candelabrum on the second
side. Three cups (calyxes) figured on one branch with
apple and lily, and three cups figured on one branch
with apple and lily, so for the six branches that come
out from the candelabrum. And upon the candelabrum
shall be four cups, figurated with apples and lilies ; an
apple under the two branches of this, and an apple
under the two branches of that, according to the six
branches that come forth from the candelabrum. Their
apples and their branches shall be of it, all beaten of
pure gold. And thou shalt make its seven lights, and
kindle its lights that they may shine towards its face.
And its snuffers and shovels (shall be made) of pure
gold. Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it and all
these vessels. And look thou, and make, according to
their resemblance which was displayed in the mount.
XXYI. And thou shalt make the Tabernacle (of)
ten curtains of fine linen twined, and hyacinth, and
purple, and vermilion, (and) figures of kerubin, the work
of the artificer shalt thou make them. The length of
one curtain twenty and eight cubits, and the breadth of
one curtain four cubits ; the measure of all the curtains
shall be one. Five curtains shall be conjoined one with
another, and five curtains conjoined one with another.
And thou shalt make loops of hyacinth upon the edge
of one curtain in the side on which it is joined, and so
shalt thou do on the border of the second curtain in the
side on which it is joined. Fifty loops shalt thou make
in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in
the side of the curtain which is in the place of the second
404 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
coupling, that the loops may answer one with another.
And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and loop the
curtains one with another with the taches, that it may
be one Tabernacle. And thou shalt make curtains of
goat's (hair) to stretch over the tabernacle; eleven
curtains thou shalt make them. The length of one curtain
shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain
four cubits; of one measure shall be the eleven curtains.
And thou shalt loop five curtains together, and six
curtains together, and fold the sixth curtain against the
front of the tabernacle. And thou shalt make fifty loops
on the edge of the one curtain where it is conjoined, and
fifty loops on the edge of the curtain at the place of the
second conjoinment. And thou shalt make fifty taches
of brass, and introduce the taches into the loops, and
conjoin the tabernacle that it may be one. And the
overplus which remaineth of the tabernacle curtains, the
half curtain, (namely,) thou shalt stretch over the hinder
side of the tabernacle. And the cubit on this and the
cubit on that (side) which remain in the length of the
curtains of the tabernacle shall be spread over the sides
of the tabernacle, here and there, to cover it. And thou
shalt make a covering for the tabernacle of rams' skins
dyed red, and a covering of purple skins above. And
thou shalt make the standing-boards of the tabernacle of
sittin woods. Ten cubits the length of one board, and a
cubit and a half its breadth. Two tenons (shall there
be) to each board, fastened over against one another ;
so shalt thou make all the boards of the tabernacle. And
thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty
boards on the southern side. And forty bases of silver
shalt thou make under the twenty boards; two bases
under one board for its two tenons, and two bases under
one board for its two tenons. And for the second side of
the tabernacle, on the northern side, twenty boards and
XXVI.] ON EXODUS. 405
their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one
board, and two sockets under another. And for the
side of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six
boards. And two boards thou shalt make at the corners
of the tabernacle at their extremities ; and they shall be
united below and likewise united at head with one ring ;
so shall it be with both of them for the two corners.
And they shall be eight boards, and their silver bases,
sixteen bases ; two bases under one board, and two
bases under the other board. And thou shalt make
bars of sittin woods, five for the boards of one side of the
tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the second
side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the end side of
the tabernacle toward the west. And the middle bar
in the midst of the boards shall pass from end to end.
And the boards thou shalt overlay with gold, and the
rings make thou of gold, the place for the bars, and
cover the bars with gold. And thou shalt erect the
tabernacle after the manner of it which hath been showed
thee on the mount.
And thou shalt make a Veil, of hyacinth, and purple,
and vermilion, and fine linen twined with the work of
the artificer, it shall be made, figured with kerubin.
And thou shalt set it upon four pillars of sittin covered
with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold upon four
bases of silver. And thou shalt put the veil under the
taches, and shalt bring in thither within the veil the
Ark of the Testament ; and the veil shall separate to you
between the Holy and the Holy of Holies. And thou
shalt set the Mercy Seat upon the ark of the Testament
in the Holy of Holies. And place thou the table
without the veil, and the candelabrum over against the
table at the south side of the tabernacle, and the table
place thou at the north side. And thou shalt make a
curtain for the door of the tabernacle of hyacinth, and
406
TARGUM OF ONKELOS
[chap.
purple, and vermilion, and fine linen twined, the work
of the embroiderer; and make for the curtain five pillars
of sittin, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks
shall be of gold ; and shalt set them upon five bases of
brass.
XXVII. And thou shalt make the Altar of sittin
woods ; five cubits the length and five cubits the breadth ;
square shall be the altar, and three cubits its height.
And thou shalt make its horns upon its four corners ;
of the same shall be its horns, and overlay it with brass.
And make its pots, to collect the ashes, and its fire-
shovels, and its basins, and its flesh-hooks, and its
thuribles, all its vessels make thou of brass. And make
for it a grate, a work of netting of brass, and make upon
the network four rings of brass upon its four sides, and
place it under the surrounding of the altar beneath,
that the net may (extend) to the middle of the altar.
And make thou staves for the altar, staves of sittin wood,
and overlay them with brass ; and he shall put the staves
into the rings, and the staves shall be at the two sides of
the altar to carry it. Hollow (with) boards make thou
it, according to what was showed thee in the mount, so
do thou.
And thou shalt make the Court of the tabernacle on
the side toward the south : curtains (shall there be) for
the court of fine twined linen a hundred cubits in
length on one side. And its pillars twenty and their
bases twenty of brass, the hooks of the pillars and their
rods of silver. And so for the north side in length
(there shall be) curtains of a hundred cubits long, and
their columns twenty and their bases twenty of brass ;
the hooks of the pillars and their rods shall be of silver.
And on the side of the court toward the west curtains
of fifty cubits, their columns ten and their bases ten.
And the breadth of the court toward the east side east-
XXVIII.] ON EXODUS. 407
ward, fifty cubits, and fifteen cubits the curtains on a
side, their columns three and their bases three. And
on the second side fifteen curtains, their pillars three,
and their bases three. And for the door of the court
shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of hyacinth, and
purple, and vermilion, and fine linen twined, the work
of the embroiderer ; their pillars four and their bases
four. All the pillars round about the court shall be
(united) with rods of silver, their hooks shall be of
silver and their bases of brass. The length of the court,
one hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty, and the height
five cubits, of fine linen twined, and their bases of brass.
All the vessels of the tabernacle, and all its service, and all
its utensils, and all the pins of the court shall be of
brass.
SECTION XX.
TETSAVVEH.
And thou shalt instruct the sons of Israel to bring to
thee the pure oil of olives, beaten, to illuminate, that
the lamps may burn continually. In the tabernacle of
ordinance, without the veil that is before the testimony,
Aharon and his sons shall set it in order from evening to
morning before the Lord ; a perpetual statute for the
generations of the sons of Israel.
XXVIII. And thou, bring to thee Aharon thy
brother and his sons with him from among the sons of
Israel, that they may minister before Me; Aharon,
Nadab and Abihu, Elazar and Ithamar, sons of Aharon.
And thou shalt make the holy vestments for Aharon thy
brother for glory and for praise. And speak thou with
408 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
all the wise of heart whom I have filled with the Spirit
of wisdom, that they make the vestments of Aharon to
consecrate him to minister before Me. And these are
the vestments which they shall make ; the breastplate,
and the ephoda, and the robe, and the inwrought tunic,
and the mitre, and the girdle ; and they shall make holy
vestments for Aharon thy brother and for his sons to
minister before Me. And they shall take the gold, and
the hyacinth, and the vermilion, and the fine linen.
And shall make the Ephoda of gold, hyacinth, and
vermilion, and fine linen twined, the work of the arti¬
ficer. Two shoulder-pieces doubled (or, conjoined)
shall it have at the two sides conjoined. And the
adorned girdle thereof which is upon it shall be of the
same work, and be of gold, hyacinth, vermilion, and
fine linen twined. And thou shalt take two stones of
onyx (burilla) ; and engrave upon them the names, of
the sons of Israel. Six of their names upon the one
stone, and the six names which remain upon the second
stone, according to their nativity. By the work of the
artificer in precious stone the writing shall be distinct ;
as the engraving of a ring, so shalt thou engrave the
two stones with the names of the sons of Israel;
inwrought in sockets of gold shalt thou make them.
And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders
of the epliod, stones of the memorial of the sons of
Israel; and Aharon shall bear their names before the
Lord upon his two shoulders for a memorial. And
thou shalt make sockets of gold ; and two chains of pure
gold enwreathed shalt thou make of twisted work, and
shalt set the twisted chains in the sockets.
And thou shalt make the Breastplate of Judgment
with the work of the artificer, like the work of the epliod
shalt thou make it, of gold, hyacinth, vermilion, and
fine linen twined shalt thou make it. Square shall it
XXVIII.] ON EXODUS. 409
be; doubled; a span its length and a span its breadth;
and thou shalt fulfil in it the complement of stones :
four rows of precious stones ; the first row, the carnelian,
topaz and smaragd, the first row; the second row,
the carbuncle, sapphire, and onyx ; 4 and the third row, the
jacinth, agate, and amethyst; and the fourth row, the
chrysolite, and beryl, and jasper : they shall be inset in
gold in their completeness. And the stones shall be
according to the names of the sons of Israel, twelve
according to their names ; the writing distinct as the
engraving of a ring ; a man according to his name shall
they be, after the twelve tribes. And thou shalt make on
the breastplate wreathed chains of twisted work of pure
gold, and upon the breastplate two golden ring's, and
shalt set the two rings upon the two sides of the breast¬
plate. And thou shalt put the two wreaths of gold into
the two rings on the sides of the breastplate; and the
two wreaths which are upon its two sides thou shalt set
in the two sockets, and put them upon the shoulders of
the ephod over against its front. And thou shalt make
two rings of gold, and set them on the two sides of the
breastplate at its edges on the side of the ephod within.
And thou shalt make two (other) rings of gold, and put
them upon the two shoulders of the ephod beneath,
over against its conjoinment above the girdle of the
ephod. And they shall unite the breastplate with its
rings to the rings of the ephod with ribbon of hyacinth
to be above the girdle of the ephod, that the breastplate
be not separated from (being) upon the ephod. And
Aharon shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the
breastplate of judgment upon his heart in his going into
the sanctuary, for a perpetual memorial before the Lord.
And thou shalt put in (or upon) the breastplate of
judgment the Uraia and the Thummaia;5 and they
Or, “emerald.” ‘ Hebrew, Eth ha-urim ve-eth ha-tummim.
T
410 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
shall be upon Aharon's heart when he entereth before
the Lord; and Aharon shall carry the judgment of the
sons of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually.
And thou shalt make the Lobe of the ephod of hyacinth
altogether. And the orifice thereof for the head shall
be doubled inwardly ; its opening shall be binded round
about with the work of the sewer, as the opening of a
coat of mail it shall be, that it be not torn. And thou
shalt make on the lower part of it pomegranates of
hyacinth, and purple, and vermilion upon its lower
part round about, with bells of gold between them
round about. A golden bell and a pomegranate; a
golden bell and a pomegranate upon the lower part of
the robe round about. And it shall be upon Aharon to
minister, and its voice shall be heard in his entering
into this sanctuary before the Lord, and in his coming
out, that he shall not have died.
And thou shalt make a Diadem (or plate) of pure
gold, and engrave upon it (in) distinct waiting Holiness
unto the Lord ; and thou shalt set it upon a ribbon of
hyacinth, that it may be upon the tiara ; over the front
of the tiara shall it be. And it shall be upon Aharon's
forehead, that Aharon may bear the iniquity of the
things which the sons of Israel may consecrate of all
their consecrated gifts ; and it shall be upon his fore¬
head continually for their acceptableness before the
Lord. And thou shalt weave the vesture of fine linen,
and make the tiara of fine linen, and a girdle shalt thou
make, the work of the embroiderer.
And for the sons of Aharon thou shalt make vestures,
and make for them girdles, and mitres shalt thou make
for them for honour and for praise. And thou shalt
dress them, Aharon thy brother and his sons with him,
and shalt anoint them and offer oblations and consecrate
them, that they may minister before Me. And thou
ON EXODUS.
XXIX.]
411
shalt make them coverings of fine linen to cover the
flesh of their shame; from the loins to the thighs shall
they be. And they shall be upon Aharon and upon his
6ons in their entering into the tabernacle of ordinance,
or in approaching to the altar to minister in the sanc¬
tuary, that they contract not guilt and die. (This shall be)
an everlasting statute for him and for his sons after him.
XXIX. And this is the thing which thou shalt do to
them, to consecrate them to minister before Me : Take
one bullock, the young of a bullock, and two rams
unblemished; and unleavened bread, and unleavened
cakes mingled with oil, and wafers unleavened which are
anointed with oil ; of wheaten flour shalt thou make
them. And thou shalt put them on one basket, and
bring them in the basket, and the bullock and the two
rams, and Aharon and his sons thou shalt bring to the
door of the tabernacle of ordinance, and wash them
with water. And thou shalt take the vestments, and
dress Aharon with the tunic and the robe of the ephod,
and the ephod and the breastplate, and shalt ordain him
with the girdle of the ephod. And thou shalt set the
tiara on his head, and put the diadem of Holiness upon
the tiara. And thou shalt take the oil of anointing,
and pour upon his head to anoint him. And thou shalt
bring his sons near, and dress them in the tunics and
gird them with the girdles, Aharon and his sons ; and
thou shalt set on them the mitres, and it shall be to them
a priesthood, by a perpetual statute. And thou shalt offer
the oblation for Aharon and the oblation for his sons,
and the bullock shalt thou offer before the tabernacle of
ordinance. And Aharon and his sons shall lay their
hands upon the head of the bullock ; and thou shalt
slay the bullock before the Lord at the door of the
tabernacle of ordinance. And thou shalt take of the
blood of the bullock, and put it upon the horns of the
T &
412 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
altar with thy finger, and all the blood (that remains)
thou shalt pour out at the base of the altar. And thou
shalt take all the fat which covereth the inwards, and
the caul that is upon the liver, and the two kidneys
and the fat that is upon them, and sacrifice them upon
the altar. And the flesh of the bullock, his skin, and
his dung, burn thou with fire without the camp ; it is
a sin-offering. And thou shalt take the one ram,
and Aharon and his sons shall lay their hands upon
the head of the ram ; and thou shalt kill the ram, and
take his blood, and sprinkle upon the altar round
about. And the ram thou shalt divide by his mem¬
bers, and shalt cleanse his inwards, and his legs, and
put them upon his members, and upon his head, and
thou shalt sacrifice the ram at the altar ; it is a holo¬
caust before the Lord, to be accepted with favour, an
oblation before the Lord. And thou shalt take the
second ram, and Aharon and his sons shall lay their
hands upon the head of the ram. And thou shalt kill
the ram, and take of his blood, and put it on the tip of
Aharon's ear, and upon the tip of the right ear of his
sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and
upon the toe of their right foot; and thou shalt
sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about. And
thou shalt take of the blood which is upon the altar,
and of the oil of anointing, and drop it on Aharon and
on his vestments, and on his sons, and on the vestments
of his sons with him, and he shall be consecrated, he
and his vestments, and his sons, and the vestments of
his sons with him. And thou shalt take of the ram,
the fat, and the tail, and the fat which covereth the
inwards, and the caul which is on the liver, and the
two kidneys, and the fat which is on them, and the
right shoulder, for it is a ram for oblation ; and one
loaf of bread, and one cake of bread (with) oil, and one
XXIX.] ON EXODUS. 413
wafer from the basket of the unleavened ones which is
before the Lord : and put thou all upon the hands of
Aharon and upon the hands of his sons, and uplift
them for an elevation before the Lord ; and take them
from their hands, and offer them at the altar upon the
burnt offering, that they may be received with acceptance
before the Lord ; it is an oblation before the Lord.
And thou shalt take the breast of the ram of Aharon's
oblations, and uplift it, an elevation before the Lord;
and it shall be thy porticn. And thou shalt con¬
secrate the breast of the elevation and the shoulder
of separation which is uplifted and which is separated
of the oblation-ram of Aharon and that of his sons ;
and it shall be for Aharon and for his sons by a per¬
petual statute for the sons of Israel, because it is a
thing separated. And a separation shall be (taken)
from the sons of Israel of their consecrated sacrifices,
(even) their separation before the Lord.
And the sacred garments of Aharon shall be his sons'
after him, to be anointed in them, (and) in them to
offer their oblations. Seven days shall the priest wear
them, who of his sons (is to be anointed) instead of
him, and who shall enter into the tabernacle of ordi¬
nance to minister in the sanctuary. And the ram of
the oblations thou shalt take, and boil his flesh in the
holy place. And Aharon and his sons shall eat the
flesh of the ram and the bread that is on the basket at
the door of the tabernacle of ordinance. And they
may eat those things by which propitiation is made in
offering them as oblations to consecrate them ; but an
alien may not eat, because they are sacred. And if any
(part) of the flesh of the oblations or of the bread
remain until the morning, the remainder shall be
burned with fire; it shall not be eaten, it is sacred.
And thou shalt do (thus) to Aharon and to his sons.
414 TAJEtGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
according to all that I have prescribed to thee : seven
days shalt thou offer 6 their oblations. A bullock that is
a sin-offering thou shalt perform daily for expiation,
and thou shalt make purification upon the altar in
making expiation upon it, and shalt anoint it, to sanc¬
tify it. Seven days must thou make expiation on the altar
to sanctify it, and the altar shall be most holy;7
whosoever shall touch the altar let him be sanctified.
And this is wrhat thou shalt perform upon the altar :
Two lambs, the offspring of the year, for the day, con¬
tinually. The one lamb thou shalt perform in the
morning, and the second lamb thou shalt perform
between the evenings. And a tenth of flour, sprinkled
with the fourth of a hina of beaten oil, and a libation of
the fourth of a hina of wine, to one lamb. And the
second lamb thou shalt perform between the evenings,
as the oblation of the morning, and as its libation thou
shalt perform it to be received with acceptance, an
oblation before the Lord. A perpetual holocaust unto
your generations at the door of the tabernacle of ordi¬
nance before the Lord, where I have appointed My
Word with you, to speak with you there. And I will
appoint My Word there unto the sons of Israel, and
(with) My glory will I sanctify (it).8 And I will
sanctify the tabernacle of ordinance, and the altar, and
Aharon, and his sons will I sanctify to minister before
Me. And I will cause My Shekinah to dwell in the midst
of the sons of Israel, and I will be their God. And
they shall know that I am the Lord their God who brought
them out from the land of Mizraim, that I may make My
Shekinah to dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.
XXX. And thou shalt make an altar upon which to
6 Sam. Vers., “ thou shalt complete.”
7 Or, “ it shall be the altar of the Holy of holies.”
8 Sam. Vers., “ and I will sanctify (it) with My glory.”
ON EXODUS.
415
XXX.]
burn fragrant incense, of woods of sittin shalt thou
make it. A cubit its length, and a cubit its breadth,
four-square shall it be, and two cubits its height. The
horns of it shall be of the same. And thou shalt cover
it with fine gold, its top and its sides round about, and
its horns. And thou shalt make to it a crown of gold
round about, and two rings of gold shalt thou make to
it under its crown, upon its top corners, at its two sides ;
and it shall be for the places of the staves by which to
carry it. And thou shalt make the staves of sittin
woods, and cover them with gold. And thou shalt
place it before the veil which is over the ark of the
testimony before the mercy-seat which is over the testi¬
mony, where I will appoint My Word to be with thee.
And Aharon shall burn thereon fragrant incense from
morning to morning, when he setteth the lamps in order
he shall burn it. And when Aharon kindleth the lamps
between the evenings, he shall burn fragrant incense
continually before the Lord in your generations. You
shall not offer upon it incense of strange perfumes, nor
holocaust, nor mincha, nor pour any libation upon it.
And Aharon shall atone upon its horns once in the year
with the blood of the sin offering of the atonement, once
in the year shall he atone upon it, unto your genera¬
tions. It is holy of holiness before the Lord.
SECTION XXI.
KI THISSA.
And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying, When
thou takest the account of the sons of Israel according
to their number, they shall give every man a ransom for
his soul before the Lord, when thou numberest them,
416 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
that there may not be death among them when thou
numberest them. This they shall give : every one who
cometh over to the adnumberraent, a half shekel, of the
shekel of the sanctuary, of twenty mayin the shekel,
half a shekel shall be set apart before the Lord. Every
one who cometh over to the adnumberment, from a son
of twenty years and above, shall give the separation
before the Lord. He who is rich shall not increase (it),
and he who is poor shall not diminish from the half
shekel in presenting the separation before the Lord to
propitiate for your souls. And thou shalt take the
silver of the propitiation from the sons of Israel, and
appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of ordinance ;
and it shall be to the sons of Israel for a memorial before
the Lord to propitiate for your souls.
And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying. Thou shalt
make a Laver of brass, and its foundation of brass for
purifying ; and set it between the tabernacle of ordi¬
nance and the altar, and put water therein. And
Aharon and his sons shall purify at it their hands and
their feet. In their entering into the tabernacle of ordi¬
nance they shall cleanse themselves with water, that
they die not ; or when they approach the altar to
minister, to offer an oblation before the Lord ; and (thus)
they shall purify their hands and their feet, that they may
not die. And it shall be to them an everlastiug statute,
to him and to his sons unto their generations.
And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying, Take thou
also to thee choice (first or principal) aromatics : pure
myrrh, five hundred (shekels* weight) ; and sweet cinna¬
mon, one half (as much), two hundred and fifty (shekels*)
weight ; of sweet calamus, two hundred and fifty (she¬
kels*) weight ; and cassia, five hundred (shekels*) weight,
of the shekels of the sanctuary ; and olive oil, a liina
full ; and make it a holy anointing oil, most fragrant,
XXXI.] ON EXODUS. 417
the work of the perfumer ; it shall be the holy oil
for anointing. And thou shalt anoint therewith the
tabernacle of ordinance and the ark of the testimony,
and the table and all its vessels, and the candela¬
brum and its -vessels, and the altar of sweet incense,
and the altar of burnt offering and all its vessels,
and the laver and its foundation, and consecrate
them. They shall be most holy ; whoever approacheth
them shall be sanctified. And Aharon and his sons
thou shalt anoint, and consecrate them to minister
'before Me. And thou shalt speak to the sons of Israel,
saying, A holy anointing oil shall thus be unto Me for
your generations. Upon the flesh of man it shall not
be poured, nor the like to it be made ; sacred is it, and
sacred shall it be to you. The man who compoundeth
the like to it, or who putteth it upon an alien, shall be
destroyed from his people.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Take thee spices,
stachte9 and onycha, and galbanum spices, and pure
frankincense, weight for weight shall they be ; and thou
shalt make it a sweet incense, fragrant, the work of the
perfumer, mixed, pure, for consecration. And thou
shalt beat some of it and make it fine, and put thereof
before the testimony in the tabernacle of ordinance,
where I will appoint My Word to be with thee; to you
it shall be most holy. And of the sweet incense which
thou shalt make you must not make the like for your¬
selves ; it shall be sacred to thee before the Lord. The
man who maketh the like of it, to smell thereto, shall
be destroyed from his people.
XXXI. And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying,
Behold, I have named by name Bezalel bar Uri bar Hur,
of the tribe of Jehudah, and have fulfilled him with the
spirit of prophecy from before the Lord, with wisdom,
9 Sam. Vers., “balsam.”
T 5
418 TAUGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
and with intelligence, and with knowledge, and in all
work (to excel), to instruct artificers to work in gold,
and in silver, and in brass, and in artisanship of precious
stone, to fill in, and in carving of wood, to accomplish
all the work. And I, behold, have given with him
Ahaliab bar Achisamak, of the tribe of Dan m} and in
the heart of all the wise of heart have I ingiven wisdom,
that they may make all that I have commanded thee-:
The tabernacle of ordinance, and the ark of the testi¬
mony, and the propitiatory that is upon it, and all the
vessels of the tabernacle ; and the table and its vessels/
and the pure candelabrum and all its vessels, and the
altar of sweet incense, and the altar of burnt offering
and all its vessels, and the laver and its foundation.
And the vestments of ministration, and the holy vest¬
ments of Aharon the priest, and the vestments of his
sons for ministry ; and the oil of anointing, and the
sweet incense for the sanctuary, according to all that
I have commanded thee, they shall make.
And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying, Speak thou
also with the sons of Israel, saying, The days of My
Sabbaths ye shall indeed keep ; for it is a sign between
My Word and you, unto your generations, that ye may
know that I am the Lord who sanctifieth you. And
you shall keep the Sabbath, for it is holy unto you ;
whosoever profaneth it, dying, he shall die ; for whoso¬
ever doeth work therein, that man shall be destroyed
from among his people. Six days shalt thou do work,
and the seventh day is Sabbath, the Holy Sabbath
before the Lord : whosoever doeth work on the day of
the Sabbath, dying, he shall die. And the sons of Israel
shall keep the Sabbath to fulfil (lit., perform) the Sabbath
unto their generations, a statute for ever. Between My
Word and the sons of Israel it is a sign for ever ; for in
six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth ; and
ON EXODUS.
419
XXXII.]
in the seventh day rested and was refreshed.10 And He
gave to Mosheh, when He had finished to speak with
him on Mount Sinai, two tablets of the testimony,
tablets of stone, inscribed with the finger of the Lord.
XXXII. But the people saw that Mosheh delayed to
come down from the Mount ; and the people gathered
together unto Aharon, and said to him. Arise, make us
gods ( dachalariy pi., objects to be venerated) that may
proceed before us ;n for this Mosheh, the man who
brought us up from the land of Mizraim, we know not
what hath been to him. And Aharon said to them,
Take off the golden ear-rings which are in the ears of
your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring
them to me. And all the people took off the golden
rings which were in their ears, and brought them unto
Aharon. And he took them from their hands, and
formed it with a graver, and made it a molten calf.
And they said. These are thy gods, Israel, which
brought thee up from the land of Mizraim. And
Aharon saw,1 and builded an altar before it ; and
Aharon proclaimed and said, A feast shall be held
before the Lord to-morrow. And they arose next day,
and sacrificed burnt offerings and offered oblations ; and
the people sat around to eat and drink, and rose up to
disport.
And the Lord spake with Mosheh, Go, descend, for
thy people whom thou broughtest up from the land of
Mizraim have corrupted themselves ; they have quickly
warped from the way which I had taught them ; they
have made a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and
sacrificed unto it, and have said, These are thy gods,
Israel, which have brought thee up from the land of
Mizraim. And the Lord said to Mosheh, It is seen
11 Sam. Vers., “as it may please us.”
10 Sam. Vers., “breathed.3
1 Sam. Vers., “ feared.”
420 TARGUM or OXKtLOS [chap.
before Me tliat this people are hard-necked. And now
refrain from thy prayer before Me, and My anger shall
prevail against them, and I will destroy them, and will
make thee to a great people. But Mosheh prayed
before the Lord his God, and said, Why, Lord, is Thy
anger strong against Thy people, whom Thou didst
bring up from the land of Mizraim with great power
and with mighty hand ? Wherefore should the Mizraee
speak to say, With evil (purpose) He led them out to
kill them among the mountains, and to consume them
from the face of the earth ? Turn from the strength of
Thine anger, and revert from the evil which Thou hast
threatened to do unto Thy people. Remember Abraham,
Izhak, and Israel, Thy servants to whom Thou hast sworn
by Thy Word, and to whom Thou hast said, I will
multiply your sons as the stars of the heavens, and all
this land of which I have spoken. I will give unto your
sons, and they shall own it for ever.
And the Lord did turn from the evil which He had
threatened to do unto the people. And Mosheh returned
and w’ent dowrn from the Mount, and the two tablets
of testimony wrere in his hand : the tablets were inscribed
on their twro sides, here and there were they inscribed.
And the tablets were the work of the Lord, and the
writing was the writing of the Lord set forth distinctly
upon the tablets.
And Jehoshua heard the voice of the people as they
made outcry, and he said to Mosheh, The voice of war
is in the camp. But he said, It is not the voice of
men wrho are victorious, nor is it the voice of the weak
who are beaten, but it is the voice of revellers that I
hear. And it was that as he drew nigh the camp, and
saw the calf and the dancing, that the anger of Mosheh
grew strong, and he cast from his hands the tablets,
and brake them at the declivity of the mountain. And
ON EXODUS.
421
XXXII.]
he took the calf which they had made, and burned it in
fire, and ground it until it was powder, and spread it
on the face of the water, and made the sons of Israel
drink it.
And Mosheh said to Aharon, What did this people
to thee, that thou hast brought upon them so great a
sin ? And Aharon said, Let not my lord's anger be
violent : thou knowest the people, that it is prone to
evil. And they said to me, Make us gods that shall
go before us : for this Mosheh, the man who brought us
up from the land of Mizraim, we know not what hath
been done to him. And I said to them, Whoever hath
gold let him deliver, and give it to me ; and I cast it
into the fire, and this calf came forth. And Mosheh
saw that the people were undone (or, made empty) ; for
Aharon had undone them, to defile them with an evil
name in their generations ; and Mosheh stood at the
gate of the camp, and said. Let those who fear the Lord
come to me. And all the sous of Levi gathered
together to him. And he said to them. Thus saith the
Lord the God of Israel, Let every man put his sword
upon his thigh, pass through, and return, from gate to
gate in the camp, and slay, a man his brother, and a
man his companion, and a man his neighbour. And
the sons of Levi did according to the word of Mosheh,
and there fell of the people in that day as three thou¬
sand men. And Mosheh said, Present your hands 2 this
day an offering before the Lord, every man with (or, on
account of) his son and his brother, that you may bring
blessings upon you this day.
And it was on the day following that Mosheh said
to the people, You have sinned a great sin ; but now I
will go up before the Lord, if haply I may propitiate
for your sin. And Mosheh returned before the Lord,
2 Some copies omit “ your hands,” and read, “ Present your offerings.”
422 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
and said in his prayer. This people have sinned a great
sin, for they have made to them gods of gold. But
now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin ! But if not, blot
me now out of the Book which Thou hast written.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Him who hath sinned
before Me, will I blot from My book. But now, go,
lead the people to the place that I have told thee of :
behold, My Angel shall proceed before thee ; and in the
day that I visit, I will visit upon them their sin. And
the Lord smote the people because they had worshipped
(or served) the calf which Aharon had made.
XXXIII. And the Lord said to Mosheh, Go, descend
from hence, thou and the people thou hast brought up
from the land of Mizraim, unto the land which I have
covenanted unto Abraham, to Izhak, and to Jakob,
saying, To thy sons will I give it. And I will send My
Angel before thee, and will drive out the Kenaanaee,
the Amoraee, and Hittaee, and the Pherizaee, the
Ilivaee, and the Jebusaee ; to the land producing milk
and honey : for My Shekinah shall not go up among
you, because thou art a hard-necked people, lest I
destroy thee in the way. And the people heard these
■words of evil, and lamented, and no man put on his
usual ornaments. And the Lord said to Mosheh, Say
to the children of Israel, Ye are a hard-necked people;
if one hour My Shekinah go up among thee, I should
destroy thee. And now take off thy garnishing from
thee, and it will appear before me what I shall do with
thee. And the children of Israel removed their usual
ornaments (on their return) from the mount of Horeb.
And Mosheh took a tabernacle, and spread it for him¬
self without the camp, at a distance from the camp,
and called it the Tabernacle of the House of Listruction :
and it was that every one who sought instruction from
before the Lord, went forth to the tabernacle of the
XXXIII.] ON EXODUS. 423
house of instruction without the camp. And it came
to pass that when Mosheh went forth to the taber¬
nacle, all the people rose up, and stood, every man at
the door of his tent, and looked after Mosheh until he
had entered into the tabernacle. And it was when
Mosheh had entered the tabernacle, the column of
the Cloud descended and stood at the door of the taber¬
nacle, and (He) spake with Mosheh. And all the
people saw the column of the Cloud standing at the
door of the tabernacle, and all the people arose and
worshipped, every man at the door of his tent. And
the Lord spake with Mosheh word with word, as a man
speaketh with his companion. And he returned to the
camp ; but his minister, Jehoshua bar Nun, a young
man, did not remove from the tabernacle.
And Mosheh said before the Lord, See, Thou hast
said to me, Take this people up ; but Thou hast not let
me know whom Thou wilt send with me ; yet Thou hast
said, I have ordained thee by name, and thou hast found
mercy before Me. And if now I have found mercy
before Thee, show me, I pray, Thy good way,3 that I
may know Thy loving-kindness, and may find mercy
before Thee, and make it manifest before Thee that this
people is Thy people. And He said. My Shekinah
shall go, and I will give thee rest. And he said before
Him, If Thy Shekinah goeth not among us, let us not
ascend from hence. And in what shall it be known
that I and Thy people have found mercy before Thee, if
Thy Shekinah go not up with us, to make for us the
distinction,4 and to distinguish me and Thy people from
every people that is upon the face of the earth ? And
the Lord said to Mosheh, This thing that thou hast
spoken will I do, because thou hast found mercy before
8 Or, " the way of Thy Goodness.”
4 Sam. Vers., “ to make us free.”
424 TARGTJM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
Me, and I have ordained thee by name. And he said.
Show me, I pray, Thy Glory ! And He said, I will
make all My Goodness pass before thy face,5 and I will
proclaim the Name of the Lord before thee, and I will be
gracious to whom I will be gracious, and have mercy on
whom I will have mercy. And He said. Thou canst
not see the Face of My Shekinah ; for no man can see
Me and abide alive. And the Lord said, Behold, there
is a place prepared before Me, and thou shalt stand
upon the rock, and it shall be, when My Glory passeth,
I will put thee in a cavern of the rock, and My Word
shall overshadow thee until I have passed ; and I will
take away the word ( dibberath ) of My Glory, and thou
shalt see that which is after Me,6 but My Aspect 7 shall
not be seen.
XXXIV. And the Lord said to Mosheh, Hew thee
two tablets of stone as the first ones, and I will write
upon the tablets the wrords that were upon the former
tablets w'hich thou hast broken. And be ready in the
morning, and go up at morn to Mount Sinai, and stand
there before Me on the summit of the mountain. Let
no man ascend with thee; let no man be seen upon all
the mountain, nor sheep nor oxen be grazing upon the
mountain. And hew two tablets of stone like the
former ones.
And Mosheh arose in the morning, and ascended
Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and
took in his hand two tablets of stone. And the Lord
was revealed in the Cloud, and He stood with him there,
and He proclaimed the Name of the Lord.8 And the
Lord made His Shekinah pass before his face ; and lie
5 Sam. Vers., “ My loving-kindness shall go before, and will lead
thee.”
6 Le-bathrai. 7 De-kadamai.
fl Or, " proclaimed in the Name of the Lord.”
ON EXODUS.
425
XXXIV.]
proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, Merciful and
Gracious, slow to anger, and making goodness and
truth to abound ; Keeping goodness for thousands of
generations ; Forgiving iniquity and rebellion and guilt ;
Pardoning them who convert unto His law, but ac¬
quitting not them who convert not ; Yisiting the guilt
of fathers upon the children and upon the children's
children of the rebellious, upon the third and upon the
fourth generation. And Mosheh made haste, and
bowed upon the ground and worshipped.
And he said, If now I have found mercy before Thee,
0 Lord, let, I pray, the Shekinah of the Lord go among
us ; for it is a hard-necked people ; but forgive Thou
our guilt and our sin, and take possession of us. And
He said, Behold, I make a covenant before all thy
people that I will do wonders which were never created
upon all the earth, nor among any of the peoples ; and
all peoples among whom thou art shall see the work of
the Lord ; for terrible shall that be which I will do with
thee. Observe thou that which I command thee this
day. Behold, I will drive out from before thee the
Amoraee, and Kenaanaee, and Hittaee, and Pherizaee,
and Hivaee, and Jebusaee. Beware lest thou make a
covenant with the inhabitants of the land upon which
thou shalt enter, lest it become a stumbling-block in the
midst of thee : but their altars thou shalt destroy, and
their statues break, and their groves cut down ; 9 for
thou shalt not worship the idols of the peoples; for the
Lord, Zealous is His Name, a zealous God is He. Lest
thou strike a covenant with the inhabitants of the land,
and go erring after their idols, and to their idols offer
sacrifices, and they invite thee, and thou eat of their
sacrifices, and thou take of their daughters for thy sons,
and they make thy daughters go erring after their idols,
9 Sam. Vers., “ root up.”
426 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
and thy sons to go erring after their idols. Molten
gods thou shalt not make to thee.
The feast of the unleavened thou shalt keep. Seven
days thou shalt eat unleavened (bread) as I have com¬
manded thee, in the time of the month of Abiva ; for in
the month of Abiva thou didst come out of Mizraim.
All that openeth the womb is Mine ; all males of cattle
thou shalt sanctify, the first-born of oxen and of sheep.
But the firstling of an ass thou raayest redeem with a
lamb ; but if thou redeem him not, thou shalt cut him
off. All the first-born of thy sons thou shalt redeem.
And let none appear before Me empty. Six days
thou shalt labour, and on the seventh day rest; in
sowing (time) and in reaping thou shalt rest. And the
feast of Weeks thou shalt make to thee, of the firsts of
the wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering in the
cycle of the year. Three times in the year shall all
your males appear before the Master of the World, the
Lord God of Israel. Tor I will drive out the nations
before thee, and enlarge thy borders, and no man shall
covet thy land when thou goest up to appear before the
Lord thy God three times in the year. Thou shalt not
sacrifice the blood of My Pascha with leaven, nor shall
the fat of the sacrifices of the Paschal feast be left with¬
out the altar till the morning. The chief of the first-
fruits of thy land thou shalt bring to the sanctuary of
the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not eat flesh with milk.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Write for thee these
words ; for upon the expression of these words I make
covenant with thee and with Israel.
And he was there before the Lord forty days and
forty nights ; bread he ate not, nor water did he drink ;
and he wrote upon the tablets the words of the cove¬
nant, the Ten Words. And it was when Mosheh
descended from the mountain of Sinai with the two
ON EXODUS.
427
XXXV.]
tablets of the testimony in the hand of Mosheh, in his
descending from the mount, that Mosheh knew not
how great was the splendour of the glory of his coun¬
tenance through His speaking with him. And Aharon
and all the sons of Israel saw Mosheh, and, behold,
great was the splendour of the glory of his countenance,
and they were afraid to approach him. But Mosheh
called to them, and Aharon and all the chiefs of the
congregation returned to him, and Mosheh conversed
with them. And afterward all the sons of Israel drew
near, and he taught them all that the Lord had said to
him on Mount Sinai. And when Mosheh had com¬
pleted to speak with them, he put a veil upon his face.
But when Mosheh went in before the Lord to speak
with Him, he removed the veil until he came out.
And he went forth and spake with the sons of
Israel of that which was commanded. And the chil¬
dren of Israel saw the face of Mosheh, that the
splendour of the glory of Mosheh's face was great ;
and Mosheh put the veil again upon his face until he
went in to speak with Him.
SECTION XXII.
VAYAKEHEL.
XXXV. And Mosheh assembled all the congrega¬
tion of the sons of Israel, and said to them, These are
the things which the Lord hath commanded you to do.
Six days thou shalt do work, but the seventh day (is) a
428 TAKGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
holy rest, the Sabbath 1 before the Lord : every one who
doeth work thereon shall be put to death. You may
not kindle a fire in all your dwellings on the day of the
Sabbath. And Mosheh spake to all the congregation
of the sons of Israel, saying, This is the word which the
Lord hath commanded, saying, Take from you a separa¬
tion ( ' aphrashutha ) before the Lord of every one whose
heart may be willing; let him bring the separation
before the Lord : gold, ’ and silver, and brass, and
hyacinth, and crimson, and scarlet, and fine linen, and
goat's hair, and ram's skin dyed red, and purple skins,
and sittin wroods ; and oil for the illuminator, and aro¬
matics for the anointing oil, and for the sweet perfumes ;
and onyx stones and complete stones for insetting in
the ephod and in the breastplate. And all the wise-
hearted among you shall come and make all that the
Lord hath commanded : the tabernacle, its. tent and its
coverings, its hasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and
its bases. The ark, and its staves, the mercy-seat,
and the veil that shall be spread ; the table, and its
staves, and all its vessels ; and the bread of the Pre¬
sence, and the candelabrum for light, and its vessels,
and its lamps, and the oil for illumination. And the
altar of sweet incense, and its staves, and the oil of
anointing, and the incense of perfumes, and the curtain
of the door of the tabernacle. The altar of burnt-
offering, and its brasen grate, its staves, and all its ves¬
sels ; the laver and its base. The curtains of the court,
and its pillars, and its bases, and the hanging of the
gate of the court. The nails of the tabernacle, and the
nails of the court and their cordings. The vestments of
ministration for ministering in the sanctuary, the holy
vestments of Aharon the priest, and the vestments of
his sons for ministration.
1 Shabbatha.
XXXV.] ON EXODUS. 429
And all the congregation of the sons of Israel went
forth from before Mosheh. And they came, every man
who was led by his heart, and every one whose spirit
was ample, and brought their separation before the
Lord, for the work of the tabernacle of ordinance, and
for all its service, and for the holy vestments. And they
came, the men with the women, every one who was
willing of heart, and brought chains, and bracelets, and
rings, and bands, all of gold. And every man who
uplifted an offering of gold before the Lord, and
every man with whom was found hyacinth, or purple,
or crimson, or fine linen, or goats' skins, or rams' skins
dyed red, or purpled skins, brought. Every one who
would offer silver or brass, brought the separation
before the Lord ; and every one with whom was found
woods of sittin for any work of the service, brought.
And every woman wise in heart spun with her hands,
and brought what was spun, the hyacinth, the purple,
the crimson, and the fine linen. And all the women
with whom was willingness of heart with wisdom spun
goat's hair. And the princes brought onyx stones and
complete stones for the insetting of the ephod and the
breastplate ; and the perfume, and oil for the light and
for the oil of anointing, and the incense of perfumes.
Every man and woman whose heart led them to bring
for all the work which the Lord had commanded to
make by Mosheh, did the children of Israel bring
willingly before the Lord.
And Mosheh said to the sons of Israel, See, the
Lord hath ordained by name Bezalel bar Uri bar Hur,
of the tribe of Jehudah, and hath filled him with the
spirit of prophecy 2 from before the Lord, wdth wisdom,
with intelligence, and with knowledge, for all handi¬
craft, and to teach the arts of working in gold, and in
2 Some copies omit “of prophecy.”
430 TARGUM OP ONKELOS [CHAP.
silver, and in brass, and the skilful work of precious
stones for enchasing, and the workmanship of wood to
work in all the work of the artificer. And he hath
ingiven in his heart to teach also Ahaliab bar Achisa-
mak, of the tribe of Dan, and hath tilled them with
wisdom of heart to make all the work of the car¬
penter, and artificer, and embroiderer, in hyacinth, and
in purple, and in scarlet, and in fine linen, and the
weaver, of (such as) do any work, and who teach the
arts.
XXXVI. And Bezalel and Ahaliab, with every man
wise in heart, to whom the Lord had given wisdom and
intelligence to know how to make each work for the
service of the sanctuary, wrought (according) to all that
the Lord had commanded. And Mosheh called Bezalel
and Ahaliab, and every man wise in heart, to whose
heart the Lord had given wisdom, every one wffiose
heart was led to draw near and do the work itself. And
they took from Mosheh all the separation which the
children of Israel had brought for the work of the ser¬
vice of the sanctuary to make it. And they still
brought to him votive offerings from morning to morn¬
ing. And all the wise men who wrought all the work
of the sanctuary came, each man from his work which
they had wrought. And they spake with Mosheh,
saying, The people abound in bringing more than is
needed for the work which the Lord hath commanded to
make. And Mosheh ordered, and they made publica¬
tion in the camp, saying, Let no man or woman make any
more work of the separation for the sanctuary : and the
people ceased to bring. Bor what had been done was
sufficient for all the work to be wrought, and more than
enough. And all the wise-hearted of them who did the
work of the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine linen,
and hyacinth, and purple, and crimson, (with) forms of
XXXVI.] ON EXODUS. 431
kerubin ; 3 tlie work of the embroiderer he made them.
The length of one curtain twenty and eight cubits, and
the breadth of the curtain four cubits ; there was one
measure for all the curtains. And he conjoined five
curtains one with another, and five curtains conjoined
he one with another. And he made loopings of hyacinth
upon the border of one curtain at the edge of the place
of conjunction ; so made he upon the border of the
other curtain at the edge of the second place of con¬
junction. Fifty loopings he made on one curtain, and
fifty loopings he made on the border of the second cur¬
tain at the place of conjunction : the loopings were
arranged the one to correspond with the other. And he
made fifty taches of gold, and conjoined the curtains one
with another by the taches, and the tabernacle became one.
And he made curtains of goat's hair to spread over
the tabernacle : eleven curtains made he them. The
length of one curtain thirty cubits, and four cubits the
breadth of one curtain; one measure had the eleven
curtains. And he conjoined five curtains together, and
six curtains together. And he made fifty loops upon
the border of the curtain on the side of the conjunction,
and fifty loops made he upon the side of the second cur¬
tain at the place of conjuncture. And he made fifty
taches of brass to conjoin the tabernacle, that it might
be one. And he made the covering of the tabernacle of
rams' skins reddened, and a covering of purple skins
above. And he made the boards of the tabernacle of
sittin wood, standing. Ten cubits the length of a
board, and a cubit and a half the breadth of one board.
Two tenons for one board corresponding one with the
other ; so made he for all the boards of the tabernacle.
And he made the boards of the tabernacle twenty boards
on the side towards the south. And forty sockets of
3 Sara. Vers., “pictures of kerubia.”
432
TARGUM OF ONKELOS
[chap.
silver made he under the twenty boards, two sockets
under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets
under one board for its two tenons. And for the
second .side of the tabernacle toward the north he
made twenty boards, and their forty sockets of silver ;
two sockets under one board, and two sockets under
one board. And for the side of the tabernacle west¬
ward he made six boards ; and two boards made he at
the corners of the tabernacle at their extremities. And
they were compacted in the lower part together, and
compacted in their upper part by one ring; thus did he
at both of the two corners. And there were eight
boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets, two
and two, under each board. And he made bars of sit-
tin wood ; five for the boards of one side of the tabernacle,
and five bars for the boards of the second side of the
tabernacle, and five bars for the extremity of the tabernacle,
westward. And he made a middle bar to pass through,
in the midst of the boards from end to end. And the
boards he overlaid with gold, and their rings made he
of gold (to be) places for the bars, and he covered the
bars with gold.
And he made the Veil of hyacinth, and purple, and
crimson, and fine linen ; of the work of the embroiderer
he made it, with forms of kerubin. And he made for
it four pillars of sittin, and covered (them) with gold,
and their hooks of gold, and cast for them four sockets
of silver. And he made a curtain for the door of the
tabernacle, of hyacinth, and purple, and crimson, and
fine linen, the work of the embroiderer. And its five
pillars and their hooks ; and he overlaid their capitals,
and covered them and their joining rods with gold, and
their five bases (made he) of brass.
XXXVII. And Bezalel made the Ark of sittin woods ;
two cubits and a half its length, and a cubit and a half
xxxvii.] on exodus. 433
its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. And he
covered it with pure gold within and without, and made
for it a wreath of gold round about. And he cast for
it four rings of gold upon its four corners, two rings on
the one side of it, and two rings on the second side.
And he made staves of sittin wood, and covered them
with gold. And he introduced the staves into the rings
on the sides of the ark, for carrying the ark.
And he made the Mercy Seat of pure gold ; two
cubits and a half its length, and a cubit and°a half its
breadth. And he made two kerubim, of beaten gold
he made them, at the two sides of the mercy seat. One
keruba on this side, and one keruba on that side of
the mercy seat ; he made the kerubaia from its two
sides. And the kerubaia spread out their wings above,
overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings; and
their faces were one towards the other, over against the
mercy seat were the faces of the kerubaia.
And he made the Table of sittin woods ; two cubits its
length, and a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half
its height. And he covered it with pure gold, and
made for it a golden crown round about, and made
for it a rim,1 its height a span, round about ; and he
made a crown of gold for its rim round about. And
he cast for it four golden rings, and set the rings upon
the four corners of its four feet. Over against the rim
were the rings to be the place of the staves for carrying
the table. And he made the vessels which were to be
upon the table ; its dishes, and its vases, and its mea¬
sures, and the cups with which (the libations) are out¬
poured, of pure gold.
And he made the Candelabrum of pure gold, beaten
made he the candelabrum, its rest, its shaft, its cups, its
apples,3 and its lilies were of the same. And six
1 Sam. Vers., “a wreath.” 2 Or, “ spherieles ”
TARGUM OF ONKELOS
43-Jt
[chap.
branchlets proceeded from its sides ; three branclilets
of the candelabrum on one side, and three branchlets of
the candelabrum on the second side. Three cups figu-
rated on one branchlet, an apple, and a lily : so the six
branchlets which proceeded from the candelabrum.
And on the candelabrum four cups figurated, its apples
and its lilies. An apple under two branchlets of the
same, and an apple under two branchlets of the same,
and an apple under two branchlets of the same, for the
six branchlets that proceeded from it. Their apples and
their branches were of the same, all of one beaten work
of pure gold. And he made its seven lamps, and its
snuffers, and its receivers of pure gold ; of a talent of
pure gold made he it, and all its vessels.
And he made the Altar of sweet Incense of sittin
wood ; its length a cubit, and a cubit its breadth, four¬
square, and two cubits the height of it; of the same
were its horns. And he overlaid it with pure gold, its top
and its sides round about, and its horns : and he made for
it a golden crown round about. And two rings of gold
made he for it under its crown, upon its two sides, the
place for the staves by which to carry it. And he made
the staves of sittin wood, and overlaid them with gold.
And he made the oil for holy anointment, and the pure
sweet incense, the work of the perfumer.
XXXYIII. And he made the Altar of Burnt Offer¬
ing of sittin wood ; five cubits its length, and five cubits
its breadth, four-square, and three cubits its height.
And he made its horns upon its four corners, of the
same wrere its horns, and he coated it with brass. And
he made all the vessels of the altar, the caldrons, and
the cleaners, and the basins, and the fleshhooks, and the
receivers ; all its vessels made he of brass. And he
made for the altar a brasen grate of network, under its
border beneath, (reaching) unto its middle. And he
XXX VIII.] ON EXODUS. 435
cast four rings for the four corners of the brasen grate,
the place for the staves. And he made the staves of
sittin wood, and overlaid them with brass. And he put
the staves into the rings upon the sides of the altar by
which to carry it ; hollow with boards he made it.
And he made the Laver of brass, and its base of brass,
of the mirrors of the women who come to pray at the
door of the tabernacle of ordinance. And he made the
court, the southern side of which was of hangings for
the court, of fine linen twined, of a hundred cubits ;
their pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty, of brass ;
the hooks, pillars, and their uniting rods of silver. And
for the northern side (hangings) of a hundred cubits,
their pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty, of brass ;
the hooks of the pillars and their uniting rods of
silver. And for the western side, curtains, fifty cubits ;
their pillars ten, and their sockets ten ; the hooks of
the pillars and their uniting rods of silver. And on the
eastern side, eastward, fifty cubits. The hangings
fifteen cubits on (one) side (of the gate), their pillars
three, and their bases three. And on the second side
of the gate of the court, here and there, hangings, fif¬
teen cubits ; their pillars three, and their bases three.
All the hangings of the court round about were
of fine linen twined. And the bases of the pillars
were of brass, the hooks, pillars, and their uniting rods
of silver, and the overlaying of their heads was of
silver, and there were uniting rods of silver for all the
pillars of the court. And the veil for the gate of
the court was the work of the embroiderer, hyacinth,
and purple, and crimson, and fine linen ; and twenty
cubits was its length, and the height, in the breadth five
cubits, according (to the height of) the curtains of the
court. And their pillars four, and their bases four, of
brass, and their hooks silver, and the overlaying of their
436
TARGUM OF ONKELOS
[chap.
heads and their uniting rods, silver. And all the pins of
the tabernacle, and of the court round about, were of
brass.
SECTION XXIII.
PEKUDEY.
These are the admeasurements 3 of the Tabernacle,
the Tabernacle of the Testimony, as they were numbered
upon the word of Mosheh : the service of the Levites
by the hand of Ithamar bar Aharon the priest. And
Bezalel bar Uri bar Hur of the tribe of Jehudah made
all that the Lord commanded Mosheh. And with him
Ahaliab bar Achisamak, of the tribe of Dan, a wood¬
worker, and artificer, and embroiderer in hyacinth,
and in purple, and in crimson, and in fine linen. And
all the gold which was used in making all the work of
the sanctuary, and which had been a separation 4 (there¬
unto), was twenty and nine talents, and seven hundred
and thirty shekels, of the shekels of the sanctuary.
And the silver of the numbered ones of the congrega¬
tion was a hundred talents, and a thousand and seven
hundred and seventy and five shekels, in the shekels of
the sanctuary. The weight was (appointed) by capita¬
tion ; a half shekel, in the shekel of the sanctuary, for
every one who passed to the adnumberments from twenty
years (old) and upward, for six hundred and three thou¬
sand and five hundred and fifty men.
And the hundred talents of silver were for casting the
bases of the sanctuary, and the bases of the veil (or tent),
a hundred bases with a hundred talents, a talent for a
3 Or, “ numerations.” 4 Some copies, “ gold of the offering.”
437
XXXIX.] ON EXODUS.
base. And with the thousand and seven hundred and
seventy and five (shekels) he made the hooks for the
pillars, and covered their capitals, and made their uniting
rods. And the brass of the oblation was seventy
talents, and two thousand and four hundred shekels.
And with it he made the bases of the door of the
Tabernacle of Ordinance, and the altar of brass, and the
brasen grate which pertained to it, and all the vessels
of the altar ; and the bases of the court round about,
and the bases of the door of the court, and all the pins
of the tabernacle, and all the pins of the court round
about.
XXXIX. And of the hyacinth, and purple, and
crimson, they made the vestments of ministration to
minister in the sanctuary, and they made the holy vest¬
ments of Aharon, as the Lord commanded Mosheh.
And he made the ephoda of gold, hyacinth, and purple,
and crimson, and fine linen twined. And they beat
out 5 the plates of gold, and cut (them) into threads, to
insert into the hyacinth, and the purple, and the crim¬
son, and the fine linen, the work of the artificer.
Shoulder-pieces made they for it, conjoined ; at the two
sides were they conjoined. And the band of its fasten¬
ing which is upon it was of the same according to its
work, of gold, hyacinth, and purple, and crimson, and
fine linen twined, as the Lord had commanded
Mosheh.
And they wrought the onyx stones, inset in sockets
of gold, engraven in distinct writing, with the names of
the sons of Israel. And he set them upon the
shoulders of the ephoda, stones of memorial of the sons
of Israel, as the Lord commanded Mosheh.
And he made the Breastplate ( chushena :), the work
of the artificer, according to the work of the ephoda, of
5 Sam. Vers., “ broadened/’
438 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
gold, hyacinth, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen
twined. Four-square was it, doubled made they the
breastplate ; a span its length, and a span its breadth,
doubled. And they filled it 6 with four rows of precious
stones : the first row carnelian, topaz, and carbuncle,
row one ; the second row, smaragd, sapphire, and eme¬
rald; and the third row, jacinth, agate, and amethyst;
and the fourth row, chrysolite, beryl, and jasper : they
were set in sockets of gold, in their infillings. And
the stones were according to the names of the sons of
Israel, twelve, according to their names, written dis¬
tinctly, as the engraving of a ring, each according to
his name for the twelve tribes. And they made upon
the breastplate chains enwreathed,7 a work of braiding,
of pure gold. And they made two sockets of gold, and
two golden rings, and put the two rings upon the two
sides of the breastplate. And they put the two golden
wreaths upon the two rings upon the sides of the breast¬
plate, and the two wreaths which were upon the two
sides they put upon the two sockets, and set them upon
the shoulders of the ephoda towards its face. And
they made two rings of gold, and set them on the two
sides of the breastplate, upon its edge which was on the
side of the ephoda inward. And they made two golden
rings, and set them on the two shoulders of the ephoda
underneath towards its front, toward the place of its
conjoinment, above the band of the ephoda. And they
adunited the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the
ephoda, by a ribbon of hyacinth, to be upon the band of
the ephoda, that the breastplate might not be loosened
from the ephoda, as the Lord commanded Mosheh.8
8 Sara. Vers., “fitted.” 7 Sam. Vers., “wreathed chains.”
8 The Samaritan Text adds here: "And they made the Urim and
Thummim” (Version, “elucidations and perfections”) “as the Lord
commanded Mosheh.”
ON EXODUS.
439
XXXIX.]
And he made the Robe of the ephoda, the work of
the embroiderer, altogether of hyacinth. And the open¬
ing (mouth) of the robe in the middle of it like the
opening of a corslet, with a binding going about its
border, that it might not be torn. And they made upon
the hem of the robe pomegranates of hyacinth and
purple and crimson inwoven. And they made bells of
pure gold, and set the bells among the pomegranates
upon the hem of the robe round about among the
pomegranates. A bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a
pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about,
to minister, as the Lord commanded Mosheh.
And they made the tunics of fine linen, the work of
the weaver, for Aharon and for his sons. And the
tiara of fine linen, and the mitres of beauty of fine
linen ; and the drawers of linen, of fine linen twined.
And the girdle of fine linen twined, and hyacinth and
purple and crimson, the work of the embroiderer, as the
Lord commanded Mosheh. And they made the plate
of the diadem of holiness of pure gold, and wrote upon
it as the engraving of a ring in distinct writing.
Holiness unto the Lord. And they put upon it a
ribbon of hyacinth, that it might be upon the tiara
above, as the Lord commanded Mosheh.
And completed was all the work of the tabernacle,
the tabernacle of ordinance ; and the sons of Israel did
according to all that the Lord had commanded Mosheh,
so did they. And they brought the tabernacle to
Mosheh, the tabernacle and all its vessels, its taches, its
boards, its bars, and its pillars, and its bases. And
the covering of rams* skins reddened, and the covering
of purple skins, and the veil for the hanging ; and the
ark of the testimony and its staves, and the mercy seat ;
the table and all its vessels, and the bread of the Pre¬
sence ; the pure candelabrum and its lamps, the lamps
440 TARGUM OF ONKELOS [CHAP.
of order, and all its vessels ; and the oil for the light ;
and the golden altar, and the oil of consecration, and
the sweet incense ; and the hanging for the door of the
tabernacle ; and the brasen altar and the brasen grate
for it; its staves and all its vessels; and the laver and
its base, the hangings of the court, its pillars, and its
sockets, and the veil for the gate of the court, its cords,
and its pins, and all the vessels of the service of the
tabernacle, for the tabernacle of ordinance ; the vest¬
ments of ministration to minister in the sanctuary, and
the holy vestments of Aharon the priest, and the vest¬
ments of his sons to minister : according to all that the
Lord commanded Mosheh, so made the sons of Israel all
the service. And Mosheh surveyed all the work, and,
behold, they had done it as the Lord had commanded,
so had they done ; and Mosheh blessed them.
XL. And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying, In
the day of ,tlie first month, in the first of the month,
thou shalt uprear the tabernacle, the tabernacle of ordi¬
nance. And thou shalt set there the ark of the testi¬
mony, and outspread the veil before the ark ; and thou
shalt bring in the table, and arrange the order thereof.
And thou shalt bring in the candelabrum, and kindle
its lamps. And thou shalt put the golden altar of
sweet incense before the ark of the testimony, and set
the veil of the door of the tabernacle. And thou shalt
put the altar of burnt offering before the door of the
tabernacle, the tabernacle of ordinance. And thou
shalt place the laver between the tabernacle of ordinance
and the altar, and put water therein. And thou shalt
set the court round about, and put the hanging at the
"ate of the court. And thou shalt take the oil of con-
O
secration, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is
therein, and sanctify it, and all its vessels, and it shall
be holy. And thou shalt anoint the altar of burnt
ON EXODUS.
441
XL.]
offering, and all its vessels, and sanctify the altar ; and
it shall be an altar most holy. And thou shalt anoint
the laver and its base, and sanctify it. And thou shalt
bring Aharon and his sons to the door of the tabernacle
of ordinance, and lave them with water, and shalt clothe
Aharon with the holy vestments, and anoint him, and
consecrate him, that he may minister before Me. And
thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with the
tunics, and consecrate them, as thou didst consecrate
their father, that they may minister before Me, and that
it may be to them the consecration 9 of a perpetual
priesthood in their generations.
And Mosheh did according to all which the Lord
commanded, so did he. And it was in the first month,
in the second year, on the first of the month, that the
tabernacle was reared. And Mosheh reared the taber¬
nacle, and placed its bases, and set its boards, and fixed
its bars, and reared its pillars ; and he spread the tent
upon the tabernacle, and set the covering of the taber¬
nacle over it, above, as the Lord commanded Mosheh.
And he took and placed the testimony in the ark, and
set the staves upon the ark, and placed the mercy seat
upon the ark above. And he brought the ark into the
tabernacle, and placed the veil which was spread to
overshadow the ark of the testimony, as the Lord com¬
manded Mosheh. And he placed the table in the
tabernacle of ordinance upon the side of the tabernacle
northward without the veil. And he set in order upon
it the rows of bread before the Lord, as the Lord com¬
manded Mosheh. And he set the candelabrum in the
tabernacle of ordinance over against the table on the
side of the tabernacle southward. And he kindled the
lamps before the Lord, as the Lord commanded Mosheh.
And he set the golden altar in the tabernacle of ordi-
' Sam. Vers., “ excellence.”
u 5
442 TARGUM OF ONKELOS ON EXODUS.
nance before the veil, and burned thereon sweet incense,
as the Lord commanded Moslieh. . And he set the
hanging of the door of the tabernacle, and the altar of
burnt offering set he at the door of the tabernacle of
ordinance, and offered upon it the burnt offering, and
the oblation, (mincha,) as 'the Lord had commanded
Mosheh. And he set the laver between the tabernacle
of ordinance and the altar, and put water therein for
purifying. And Mosheh and Aharon and his sons
purified with it their hands and their feet. In their
going into the tabernacle of ordinance, and in their
approachment to the altar, they purified (themselves), as
the Lord commanded Mosheh. And he set up the
court, round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set
the hanging of the gate of the court : and Mosheh com¬
pleted the work.
And the Cloud covered the tabernacle of ordinance,
and the Glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And
Mosheh was not able to enter into the tabernacle of
ordinance, because the Cloud abode upon it, and the
Glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And when the
Cloud ascended above the tabernacle, the sons of Israel
went forward in all their journeys. And if the Cloud
did not ascend, they did not proceed, until the day of
its uprising. Lor the Cloud of the Glory of the Lord
was upon the tabernacle by day, and the vision of fire
was in it by night, in the eyes of all the house of Israel
in all their journeys.
END OF THE TARGUM OF ONKELOS ON SHEMOTH.
THE PALESTINIAN TARGUM
ON
THE BOOK SHEMOTH,
OR
EXODUS.
SECTION OF THE LAW XIII. TITLE SHEMOTH.
And these are the names of the sons of Israel who
went into Mizraim with Jakob, each with the men of
his house entered in : Beuben, Shimeon, Levi, and
Jehudah ; Issakar, Zebulon, and Benjamin ; Dan and
Naphtali ; Gad and Asher. And the number of all the
souls coming from the thigh of Jakob, seventy souls,
with Joseph and his sons, who were in Mizraim.
And Joseph died, and after him died all his brethren,
and all that generation. And the sons of Israel increased,
and multiplied children, and became strong, and pre¬
vailed greatly, and the land was filled with them. And
there arose a new king (other) than he who was for¬
merly over Mizraim, who took no knowledge of Joseph,
and walked not in his laws. [Jerusalem Targum.
And a king arose (different from him who was)
formerly over Mizraim, who took no knowledge of
Joseph, and walked not in his laws.] And he said to
his people, Behold now, the people of the house of
Israel are many, and are stronger than we. Come, let
444 TAEGU M OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
us take counsel against them in these matters, to
diminish them that they multiply not, so as that, should
war be arrayed against us, they be not added to our
adversaries, and destroy us that not one of us be left,
and they afterward go forth from the land. [Jeru¬
salem. And they kill us, and go up in peace from the
land.] And they set over them work-masters to afflict
them in their servitude ; and they builded walled cities
to become Pharoh's treasure-places, Tanis and Pilusin.
[Jerusalem. Tanis and Pilusin.] But as much as they
depressed them, so much they multiplied, and so much
they prevailed, and the Mizraee were troubled in their
lives before the sons 'of Israel. And the Mizraee
enslaved the sons of Israel, and made their lives bitter
by hard service in clay and bricks, and all the labour of
the face of the field ; and in all the work which they
made them do was hardness.
And Pharoh told that he, being asleep, had seen in
his dream, and, behold, all the land of Mizraim was
placed in one scale of a balance, and a lamb, the young
of a sheep, was in the other scale ; and the scale with
the lamb in it overweighed. Porthwith he sent and
called all the magicians of Mizraim, and imparted to
them his dream. Immediately Jannis and Jambres, the
chief of the magicians, opened their mouth and answered
Pharoh, — A certain child is about to be born in the
congregation of Israel, by whose hand will be destruc¬
tion to all the land of Mizraim. Therefore did Pharoh,
king of Mizraim, give counsel to the Jehudith mid¬
wives, the name of one of whom was Shifra, who is
Jokeved, and the name of the other Puvah, who is
Miriam her daughter. [Jerusalem. And the king of
Mizraim told the Hebrew midwives, the name of the
first of whom was Shifra, and she was Jokeved, and the
name of the second Puvah, she was Miriam.] And
ON EXODUS.
445
II.]
he said, When you attend Jehudith women, and see
them bear, if it be a male child, you shall kill him ; but
if a daughter, you may let her live. But the mid wives
feared before the Lord, and would not do according to
what the king of Mizraim had said to them, but they
saved the children. And the king of Mizraim called
the midwives, and said to them, Why have you done
this thing, and have saved the children ? And the mid¬
wives said to Pharoh, The Jehudith women are not as
the Mizraite, for they are sturdy (or, courageous) and
wise-minded : before the midwife cometh to them they
lift up their eyes in prayer, supplicating mercy before
their Bather wTlo is in heaven, who heareth the voice
of their prayer, and at once they are heard, and bring
forth, and are delivered in peace. [Jerusalem. Because
they are vivacious, and before the midwife cometh to
them they pray before their Bather who is in heaven,
and He answereth them, and they bring forth.] And
the Lord did good to the midwives, and the people mul¬
tiplied and prevailed greatly. And forasmuch as the
midwives feared before the Lord, they obtained for
themselves a good name unto the ages ; and the Word
of the Lord up-builded for them a royal house, even the
house of the high priesthood. [Jerusalem. Because
the midwives feared before the Lord, they obtained for
themselves a good name in the midst of the ages, and
made unto themselves houses, — the house of the Levites
and the house of the high priesthood.] But when
Pharoh saw this, he commanded all his people, saying,
Every male child that is born to the Jehudaee you
shall cast into the river ; but every daughter you may
spare.
II. And Amram, a man of the tribe of Levi, went
and returned to live in marriage with Jokeved his wife,
whom he had put away on account of the decree of
446 TAR GUM OP PALESTINE [CHAP.
Pharoh. [Jerusalem. And there went a man of the
tribe of Levi and took Jokeved, who was beloved of
him, (or, who was related to him,) to wife.] And she
was the daughter of a hundred and thirty years when
he returned to her; but a miracle was wrought in her,
and she returned unto youth as she was, when in her
minority she was called the daughter of Levi. And
the woman conceived and bare a son at the end of six
months; and she saw him to be a child of steadfastness,
(or, of steadfast life,) and hid him three months, which
made the number nine. But she could conceal him no
longer, for the Mizraee had become aware of him. And
she took an ark of papyrus, {tunes,) and coated it with
bitumen and pitch, and placed the child within it, and
laid him among the reeds on the bank of the river.
And Miriam his sister stood at a distance to take
knowledge of what would be done to him. And the
° . •
Word of the Lord sent forth a burning sore and inflam¬
mation of the flesh upon the land of Mizraim ; and the
daughter of Pharoh came down to refresh herself at the
river. And her handmaids, walking upon the bank of
the river, saw the ark among the reeds, and put forth
the arm and took it, and were immediately healed of the
burning and inflammation. And she opened, and saw
the child, and, behold, the babe wept; and she had
compassion upon him, and said, This is one of the
children of the Jehudaee. And his sister said to
PharolTs daughter, May I go and call for thee a nursing
woman from the Jehudesses, to suckle the babe for
thee ? And Pharoh's daughter said, Go ; and the
damsel went and called the child's mother. And the
daughter of Pharoh said, Take this child and suckle
it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the
woman took the child and suckled him. And the child
grew, and was brought to Pharoh' s daughter, and he
ON EXODUS.
447
II.]
was beloved by her as a son ; and she called his name
Mosheh, Because, said she, I drew him out of the water
of the river. [Jerusalem. I uplifted him.]
And in those days when Mosheh was grown up, he
went forth to his brethren, and saw the anguish of
their souls, and the greatness of their toil. And he saw
a Mizraite man strike a Jewish man of his brethren ;
and Mosheh turned, and considered in the wisdom of
his mind, and understood that in no generation would
there arise a proselyte from that Mizraite man, and that
none of his children's children would ever be con¬
verted ; and he smote the Mizraite, and buried him in
the sand. [Jerusalem. And Mosheh, by the Holy
Spirit, considering both the young men, saw that,
behold, no proselyte would ever spring from that
Mizraite ; and he killed him, and hid him in the sand.]
And he went out the second day, and looked ; and,
behold, Dathan and Abiram, men of the Jehudaee, con¬
tended ; and seeing Dathan put forth his hand against
Abiram to smite him, he said to him, Wherefore dost
thou smite thy companion ? And Dathan said to him.
Who is he who hath appointed thee a chief man and a
judge over us ? Wilt thou kill me, said he, as thou
didst the Mizraite ? And Mosheh was afraid, and said,
Verily, the thing has become known. And Pharoh
heard this thing, and sought to kill Mosheh ; and
Mosheh escaped before Pharoh, to dwell in the land of
Midian. And he sat by a well. And the priest of
Midian had seven daughters ; and they came and drew,
and filled the watering-troughs, to give drink to the
flocks of their father. But the shepherds came and
drave them away. And Mosheh arose in the power of
his might, and rescued them, and gave the flocks drink.
And they came to Keuel, their grandfather, who said to
them, How is it that you are come (so) early to-day ?
448 T All GUM OP PALESTINE [CHAP.
And they replied, A Mizraite man not only delivered us
from the hand of the shepherds, but also himself draw¬
ing drew and watered the flock. And he said to his
son's daughters, And where is he ? Why did you leave
the man ? Call him, and let him eat bread. But when
Beuel knew that Mosheh had fled from before Pliaroh,
he cast him into a pit ; but Zipporah, the daughter of
his son, maintained him with food, secretly, for the time
of ten years ; and at the end of ten years brought him
out of the pit. And Mosheh went into the bedchamber
of Beuel, and gave thanks and prayed before the Lord,
who by him would work miracles and mighty acts. And
there was shown to him the Bod which was created
between the evenings, and on which was engraven and
set forth the Great and Glorious Name, with which he
was to do the wonders in Mizraim, and to divide the
sea of Suph, and to bring forth water from the rock.
And it was infixed in the midst of the chamber, and
he stretched forth his hand at once and took it. Then,
behold, Mosheh was willing to dwell with the man,
and he gave Zipporah, the daughter of his son, to
Mosheh. And she bare him a male child, and he called
his name Gershom, Because, said he, a sojourner have I
been in a strange land which is not mine.
And it was after many of those days that the king
of Mizraim was struck (with disease), and he com¬
manded to kill the firstborn of the sons of Israel, that
he might bathe himself in their blood. And the sons
of Israel groaned with the labour that was hard upon
them ; and they cried, and their cry ascended to the
high heavens of the Lord. And He spake in His Word
to deliver them from the travail. And their cry was
heard before the Lord, and before the Lord was the
covenant remembered which He had covenanted with
Abraham, with Izhak, and with Jakob. And the Lord
ON EXODUS.
449
III.]
looked upon the affliction of the bondage of the sons of
Israel ; and the repentance was revealed before Him
which they exercised in concealment, so as that no man
knew that of his companion.
III. But Mosheh was keeping the flock of Jethro his
father-in-law, the rabba of Midian ; and he had led the
flock to a pleasant place of pasturage which is behind
the desert, and had come to the mountain on which was
revealed the glory of the Lord, even Horeb. And
Zagnugael, the angel of .the Lord, appeared to him in a
flame of fire in the midst of the bush. And he gazed,
and, behold, the bush burned with fire, yet the bush was
neither burned nor consumed with fire. [Jerusalem:.
And he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire,
yet remained in freshness, (or, was moist), neither was
it consumed.] And Mosheh said, I will turn aside now
and consider this great sight, why the bush is not
burned. [Jerusalem. I will look at this great sight,
wherefore the bush is refreshed and not burned.] And
when it was seen before the Lord that he turned to
look, the Lord called to him from the midst of the
bush and said, Mosheh, Mosheh ! And he said, Behold
me. And He said, Approach not hither, take the shoe
from thy feet, for the place on which thou standest is a
holy place ; and upon it thou art to receive the Law, to
teach it to the sons of Israel. And He said, I am the
God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of
Izhak, and the God of Jakob. And Mosheh covered
his face ; for he was afraid to look upon the height of
the glory of the Shekinah of the Lord.
And He said, The oppression of My people who are
in Mizraim is verily manifest before Me, and heard
before Me is their cry on account of them who hold
them in bondage ; for their affliction is known before Me.
And I have revealed Myself to thee this day, that by
450 TARGUM OP PALESTINE [CHAP.
My Word they may be delivered from the hand of the
Mizraee, to bring them up out of the unclean land,
unto a good land, and large in its boundaries, a land
yielding milk and honey ; unto the place where dwell
the Kenaanaee, and the Hittaee, and the Amoraee, and
the Pherizaee, and the Hivaee, and the Jebusaee. And
now, behold, the cry of the sons of Israel cometh up
before Me, and the bruising of the Mizraee wherewith
they bruise them is also revealed before Me. And now,
come, and I will send thee unto Pharoh, and thou shalt
bring forth My people, the sons of Israel, out of Mizraim.
And Mosheh said before the Lord, Who am I, that I
should go to Pharoh, and bring forth the sons of Israel
out of Mizraim? But He said, Therefore My Word
shall be for thv help ; and this shall be the sign to thee
that I have sent thee : when thou hast brought the
people forth from Mizraim, ye shall worship before the
Lord, because ye shall have received the Law upon this
mountain.
And Mosheh said before the Lord, Behold, I will go
to the sons of Israel, and say to them, The Lord God
of your fathers hath sent me to you : and they will say
to me, What is His Name ? What shall I say to them ?
And the Lord said unto Mosheh, He who spake, and
the world was ; who spake, and all things were. And
He said, This thou shalt say to the sons of Israel, I am
He who is, and who will be, hath sent me unto you.
[Jerusalem. And the Word of the Lord said to
Mosheh, He who spake to the world, Be, and it was ;
and who will speak to it. Be, and it will be. And He
said. Thus shalt thou speak to the sons of Israel,
Eheyeh 1 hath sent me unto you.] And the Lord said
again unto Mosheh, Thus shalt thou speak to the sons
of Israel, The God of your fathers, the God of Abraham,
1 “ I will be.”
ON EXODUS.
451
IV.]
the God of Izhak, and the God of Jakob, hath sent me
unto you. This is His Name for ever, and this is His
Memorial to every generation and generation.
Go, and assemble the elders of Israel, and say to
them. The Lord God of your fathers hath appeared unto
me, the God of Abraham, Izliak, and Jakob, saying,
Kemembering I have remembered you, and the injury
that is done you in Mizraim ; and I have said in My
Word, I will bring you up out from the oppression of
the Mizraee into the land of the Kenaanaee, and
Hittaee, and Amoraee, and Pherizaee, and Hivaee, and
Jebusaee, to the land that yieldeth milk and honey.
And they will hearken to thee : and thou and the elders
of Israel shall go to the king of Mizraim and say to him,
The Lord God of the Jehudaee hath called us ; and
now let us go a journey of three days into the wilder¬
ness, to sacrifice before the Lord our God. But it is
manifest before Me that the king of Mizraim will not
let you go, (no,) not from fear of Him who is Mighty,
until that by My Word he shall have been punished
with evil plagues. And ye will be hindered there until
I have sent forth the stroke of My powTer, and have
smitten the Mizraee with all My wonders, that I will
do among them; and afterward he will release you.
And I will give this people grace in the eyes of the
Mizraee ; and it shall be that when ye go free from
thence, ye shall not go empty. But a woman shall ask
of her neighbour, and from those next to the wall of
her house, [Jerusalem. Eellowr resident,] vessels of
silver, and vessels of gold, and vestments ; and you shall
set them as crowns upon your sons and your daughters,
and make the Mizraee empty.
IV. And Mosheh answered and said, But, behold, thev
will not believe me, nor hearken to me; for they will
say, The Lord hath not appeared to thee. And the
452
TARGUM OF PALESTINE
[chap.
Lord said to him. What is that in thy hand ? And he
said, The rod. And He said. Cast it on the ground ;
and he cast it to the ground, and it became a serpent ;
and Mosheh fled from before it. [Jerusalem. And
He said, Cast it on the ground ; and he cast it on the
ground.] And the Lord said to Mosheh, Stretch forth
thy hand and seize (it) by its tail. [Jerusalem. And
grasp the place of its tail.] And he stretched forth his
hand and grasped it, and it became the rod in his hand :
— Ln order that they may believe that the Lord God of
their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Izhak,
and the God of Jakob, hath revealed Himself to thee.
And the Lord said to him again, Put now thy hand
within thy breast ( Clioiba ) ; and he put it within his
breast, and withdrew it, and, behold, his hand was
leprous, it was white as snow. And He said, Return
thy hand into thy bosom ( Aitaph ) ; and he returned
his hand to his breast, and withdrew it from his breast,
and it had become clean as his flesh. [Jerusalem.
Put now thy hand into thy breast, and he put his hand
within his breast.] And if they believe not these two
signs, nor receive from thee, thou shalt take of the water
of the river and pour it on the ground, and the water
that thou shalt take from the river shall become blood
upon the ground.
And Mosheh said before the Lord, 0 Lord, I pray :
I am not a man of words, nor ever have been before
that Thou didst speak with Thy servant ; for I am of a
staggering3 mouth and staggering speech. [Jerusalem.
Por of a staggering mouth and difficult speech am I.]
And the Lord said, Who is he who first put the
language of the mouth into the mouth of man ? or who
hath appointed the dumb or the deaf, the open-seeing
or the blind, but I the Lord ? And now go, and I by
* Or. “lame.”
IV.] ON EXODUS. 453
My Word will be with the speaking of thy mouth, and
will teach thee what thou shalt say.
And he said, I pray for mercy before the Lord.
Send now Thy sending by the hand of Phinehas, by
whom it is to be sent at the end of the days. [Jeru¬
salem. Send now by the hand of him by whom it is
opportune to send.] And the anger of the Lord was
kindled against Mosheh, and He said. Is it not manifest
before Me that Aharon thy brother speaking can speak ?
And, behold, also, he cometh forth to meet thee, and
will see thee and rejoice in his heart. And thou shalt
speak with him, and put the matter in his mouth, and
My Word shall be with the word of thy mouth, and
with the word of his mouth, and I will instruct you
what you are to do. And he shall speak for thee with
the people, and be to thee an interpreter, and thou to
him the principal, seeking instruction from before the
Lord. [Jerusalem. He shall be to thee an interpreter,
and thou to him one inquiring instruction from before
the Lord.] And this rod take thou in thy hand to
work therewith the signs.
And Mosheh went, and returned unto Jethro his
father-in-law, and said, I will nowr go to my brethren
who are in Mizraim, to see how they now live. And
Jethro said to Mosheh, Go in peace. And the Lord
said unto Mosheh in Midian, Go, return to Mizraim ;
for they have come to nought, and gone down from
their possessions ; behold, all the men wTho sought to
take thy life are reckoned as the dead.
And Mosheh took his wife and his sons, and made
them ride on the ass, and returned to the land of
Mizraim. And Mosheh took the rod which he had
brought away from the chamber of his father-in-law ;
and it was from the sapphire Throne of glory, in weight
forty sein ; and upon it was engraven and set forth the
454 T AH GUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
Great and Glorious Name by which the signs should be
wrought before the Lord by his hand. And the Lord
said to Mosheh, In going to return into Mizraim, con¬
sider all the miracles that I have put in thy hand, and
do them before Pharoh : and I will make obstinate the
disposition (passion) of his heart, and he will not deliver
the people. And thou shalt say to Pharoh, Thus saith
the Lord, Israel is My first-born son ; and to thee I
say, Let My son go free, that he may worship before
Me; and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will
slay thy first-born son.
But it was on the way, in the place of lodging, that
the angel of the Lord met him, and sought to kill him,
because Gershom his son had not been circumcised,
inasmuch as Jethro his father-in-law had not permitted
him to circumcise him : but Eliezer had been circum¬
cised, by an agreement between them two. And
Zipporah took a stone, and circumcised the foreskin of
Gershom her son, and brought the severed part to the
feet of the angel, the Destroyer, and said. The husband
sought to circumcise, but the father-in-law obstructed
him ; and now let this blood of the circumcision atone
for my husband. [Jerusalem. And she circumcised
the foreskin of her son, and brought before the feet of
the Destroyer, and said, The husband would have cir¬
cumcised, but the father-in-law did not permit him;
but now, let the blood of this circumcision atone for
the fault of this husband.] And the destroying angel
desisted from him, so that Zipporah gave thanks, and
said. How lovely is the blood of this circumcision that
hath delivered my husband from the angel of destruc¬
tion ! [Jerusalem. And when the Destroyer had
ceased from him, Zipporah gave thanks and said, How
lovely is the blood of this circumcision which hath
saved my husband from the hand of the angel of death !]
ON EXODUS.
455
V.]
And the Lord had said to Aharon, Go and meet
Mosheh in the desert. And he came and met him at
the mountain where was revealed the glory of the Lord,
and he embraced him. And Mosheh delivered to
Aharon all these wrords with which he had sent him, and
all the signs that he had instructed him to work.
And Mosheh and Aharon went, and gathered
together all the elders of the sons of Israel. And
Aharon spake all the words which the Lord had spoken
with Mosheh, and did the signs in the eyes of the peo¬
ple. And the people believed, and heard that the Lord
had remembered the sons of Israel, and that their bond¬
age was manifest before Him ; and they bowed them¬
selves and worshipped. [Jerusalem. And they kneeled
down.]
Y. And after this Mosheh and Aharon went in unto
Pharoh, and said, Thus saith the Lord, the God of
Israel : Belease My people, that they may make unto
Me a festival in the wilderness. And Pharoh said,
The name of the Lord is not made known to me, that I
should receive His word to release Israel. I have not
found written in the Book of the Angels the name of
the Lord. Of Him I am not afraid, neither will I
release Israel. And they said. The Name of the God of
the Jehudaee is invoked by (or upon) us. We will go,
then, to proceed three days into the desert, and offer the
sacrifices of a festival before the Lord God, that death
and slaughter befall us not. And the king of Mizraim
said to Mosheh and Aharon, Why do you make the
people cease from their labours ? Go to your work.
And Pharoh said, Behold, this people of the land are
many, whom you would stop from their service. And
Pharoh that day commanded the officers of the people
and their exactors, saying, You shall no more give
straw to the people to cast bricks as heretofore ; let
456 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
them go and collect straw for themselves ; but the
(same) number of bricks which they have heretofore
made ye shall lay upon them, and not diminish from it,
because they are idle ; therefore they clamour, saying.
Let us go to offer the sacrifice of a festival before our
God. Make their work strenuous upon the men, that
they may be occupied with it, and not be setting their
hopes upon lying words. And the officers and exactors
of the people went forth, and said to the people, Thus
saith Pharoh, I will not give you straw ; you must go
and take straw wherever you can find it ; for your work
will not in anywise be diminished. And the people were
scattered abroad in all the land of Mizraim to gather
stubble for the straw. But the officers were pressing,
saying, Fulfil your work day by day, as you did when
the strawr was given you. And the exactors whom
Pharoh set over them as officers beat the sons of Israel,
saying, Why have not you fulfilled your appointment, *to
cast (the same number of) bricks as heretofore, to-day
as yesterday ? And the foremen came, and cried before
Pharoh, saying, Why hast thou dealt thus with thy ser¬
vants ? Thou hast not given thy servants the straw, and
(yet) say they to us, Make the bricks ; and, behold, they
beat thy servants, and the guilty treatment of thy people
is strong : — but it goeth up ! But he said, You are
idle, idle : therefore you are saying, Let us go and offer
the sacrifice of a festival before our God. And now, go,
work ; but the straw shall not be given you, yet the
number of the bricks you shall produce. And the fore¬
men of the sons of Israel saw that they were in evil,
(in his) saying, Ye are not to withhold the assignment
of your bricks from day to day. And they met Mosheh
and Aharon, who stood before them when they came
out from the presence of Pharoh, and they said to them,
Our affliction is manifest before the Lord, but our
457
VI.] ON EXODUS.
punishment is from you who have made our smell offen¬
sive before Pharoh and his servants ; for you have occa¬
sioned a sword to be put into their hand to kill us. And
Mosheh returned before the Lord, and said, 0 Lord,
why hast Thou done evil to this people, and wherefore
hast Thou sent me ? Prom the hour that I went in
unto Pharoh to speak in Thy name, this people hath
suffered evil, and delivering Thou hast not delivered
them.
VI. And the Lord said unto Mosheh, Now have I
seen what Pharoh hath done : for by a strong hand
shall he release them, and with a strong hand drive
them forth from his land.
SECTION XIV.
VAERA.
And the Lord spake with Mosheh, and said to him,
I am the Lord who revealed Myself to thee in the
midst of the bush, and said to thee, I am the Lord.
And I was revealed unto Abraham, and to Izhak, and
to Jakob, as El-Shaddai ; but My Name Ye-ya, as it
discovereth My Glory,3 was not known to them.
[Jerusalem. And the Lord was revealed in His Word
unto Abraham, to Izhak, and to Jakob, as the God of
Heaven; but the Name of the Word of the Lord was
not known to them.] And I confirmed also My cove¬
nant with them, to give them the land of Kenaan, the
land of their sojourning in which they were sojourners.
3 Or, “ in the face of My Shekinah.”
X
458 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
And now cometh before Me tbe groaning of the sons of
Israel, because the Mizraee do enslave them ; and I
remember My covenant. Therefore say to the sons of
Israel, I am the Lord ; and I will bring you forth from
the oppressive bondage of the Mizraee, and will deliver
you from your servitude, and save you with an uplifted
arm, and by great judgments. And I will bring you
nigh before Me to be a people, and I will be a God
unto you, and you shall know that I am the Lord your
God who hath led you forth from the hard service of
the Mizraee. And I will bring you into the land which
I covenanted by My Word to give unto Abraham, to
Izhak, and to Jakob ; and I will give it to you for an
inheritance. I Am the Lord. And Mosheh spake
according to this to the sons of Israel ; but they received
not from Mosheh, through anxiety of spirit, and from
the strange and hard service which was upon their
hands'! [Jerusalem. From anxiety.]
And the Lord spake to Mosheh, saying, Go in,
speak with Pharoh, the king of Mizraim, that he release
the children of Israel from his land. And Mosheh
said before the Lord, Behold, the sons of Israel do not
hearken to me ; how then will Pharoh hearken to me,
and I a man difficult of speech ? And the Lord spake
with Mosheh and with Aharon, and gave them admoni¬
tion for the sons of Israel, and sent them to Pharoh,
king of Mizraim, to send forth the children of Israel
from the land of Mizraim.
These are the heads of the house of their fathers.
The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, Hanok
and Phallu, Hezron and Karmi ; these are the race of
ReubeD. And the sons of Shimeon, Jemuel, and
Jamin, and Ohad, and Jakin, and Sochar, and Sliaul
(he is Zimri, who yielded himself unto fornication, as
among the Kenaanaee) ; tl^ese are the race of Shimeon.
ON EXODUS.
459
VI.]
And these are the names of the sons of Levi, according
to their race : Gershon, and Kehath, and Merari.
And the years of the life of Levi a hundred and thirty
and seven years : he lived to see Mosheli and Aharon
the deliverers of Israel. And the sons of Gershon,
Libni and Shemei, according to their generations. And
the sons of Kehath, Amram, and Jitshar, and Hebron,
and Uzziel. And the years of the life of Kehath the
saint, a hundred and thirty and three years. He lived
to see Phinehas, who is Elijah, the Great Priest, who is
to be sent to the captivity of Israel at the end of the
days. And the sons of Merari, Mahali and Mushi ;
these are the race of Levi, according to the generations.
And Amram took Jokeved his cousin to wife, and she
bare him Aharon and Mosheli; and the years of
Amram the saint were a hundred and thirty and seven
years. He lived to see the children of Eechabia bar
Gershom bar Mosheh. And the sons of Jitshar
(were) Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri. And the sons
of Uzziel, Mishael, and Elsaphan, and Sithri. And
Aharon took Elisheba, daughter of Aminadab, sister of
Nachshon, unto him to wife, and she bare him Nadab
and Abihu, Elasar and Ithamar. And the sons of
Korah, Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph : these are the
race of Korah. And Elasar bar Aharon took unto him
a wife from the daughters of Jethro who is Putiel,
and she bare him Phinehas. These are the heads of the
fathers of the Levites, according to their generations.
These are Aharon and Mosheh, to whom the Lord
said, Bring forth the sons of Israel free from the land
of Mizraim, according to their hosts; — these are they
who spake with Pharoh, king of Mizraim, that he
should send out the sons of Israel from Mizraim ; — it is
Mosheh the prophet, and Aharon the priest.
4 Levitee.
x 2
460 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
And it was in the day when the Lord spake with
Mosheh in the land of Mizraim, that Aharon gave a
listening ear, and heard what He spake with him. And
the Lord spake with Mosheh, and said to him, I am
the Lord. Say to Pharoh, king of Mizraim, all that I
tell thee. And Mosheh said before the Lord, Behold,
I am difficult in speaking; how then will Pharoh
hearken to me ?
VII. But the Lord said to Mosheh, Wherefore art thou
fearful ? Behold, I have set thee a terror to Pharoh,
as if thou wast his God, and Aharon thy brother shall
be thy prophet. Thou shalt speak to Aharon that
which I command thee, and Aharon thy brother shall
speak to Pharoh, that he release the sons of Israel from
his land. But I will harden the disposition of Pharoh's
heart, to multiply My signs and My wonders in the land
of Mizraim. Nor will Pharoh hearken to you. But I
will shoot among them the arrows of death, and inflict
the plagues of My mighty hand upon Mizraim, and will
bring out the sons of Israel free from among them. And
Mosheh and Aharon did as the Lord commanded them,
even so did they. And Mosheh was the son of eighty
years, and Aharon the son of eighty and three years,
at their speaking with Pharoh. And the Lord spake to
Mosheh and to Aharon, saying, When Pharoh talkethwith
you, saying, Give us a miracle, thou shalt say to Aharon,
Take thy rod, and cast it down before Pharoh, and it
shall become a basilisk-serpent ; 5 — for all the inhabiters
of the earth shall hear the voice of the shriek of Mizraim
when I shatter them, as all the creatures heard the shriek
of the serpent when made naked at the beginning.
[Jerusalem. And throw down before Pharoh.]
And Mosheh and Aharon went in unto Pharoh, and
did as the Lord had commanded. And Aharon threw
5 Chiv&chureman.
ON EXODUS.
461
VII.]
down the rod before the sight of Pharoh, and before
the sight of his servants, and it became a basilisk.6 But
Pharoh called the hacbems and magicians ; and they
also, Janis and Jamberes, magicians of Mizraim, did the
same by their burnings of divination. They threw
down each man his rod, and they became basilisks ;
but were forthwith changed to be what they were at
first ; and the rod of Aharon swallowed up their rods.
And the disposition 7 of Pharoh's heart was hardened,
and he would not hearken to them, as the Lord had
said.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, The disposition of
Pharoh' s heart is obdurated in refusing to release the
people. Go unto Pharoh in the morning : behold, he
cometh forth to observe divinations at the water as a
magician ; so shalt thou prepare thee to meet him on
the bank of the river, and Aharon's rod that was
changed to be a serpent thou shalt take in thy hand.
[Jerusalem. To refresh himself at the river.] And
thou shalt say to him. The Lord God of the Jehudaee
hath sent me unto thee, saying, Release My people, that
they may serve Me in the desert ; and, behold, as
yet thou hast not hearkened. Thus saith the Lord : By
this sign thou shalt know that I am the Lord. Behold,
with the rod that is in my hand, I will smite the waters
of the river, and they shall be changed into blood. And
the fish that are in the river shall die, and the
river become foul, and the Mizraee shall desist from
drinking water from the river.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Tell Aharon, Take thy
rod and stretch forth thy hand over the waters of the
Mizraee, over their rivers, over their trenches, over their
canals, and over every place for collecting their waters,
and they will become blood ; and there shall be blood
• Churmana . 7 Yitsra, “ disposition/’ or “ design.”
462 TARGI7M OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
in all the land of Mizraim, and in vessels of wood and
in vessels of stone. [Jerusalem. In vases.] And
Mosheh and Aharon did so, as the Lord commanded;
and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters of the
river in the sight of Pharoh, and in the sight of his
servants ; and all the waters of the river were turned
into blood ; and the fish that were in the river died ;
and the river became foul, and the Mizraee could not
drink of the waters of the river, and the plague of
blood was in all the land of Mizraim. But so (also)
did the astrologers of Mizraim by their burnings, and
turned the waters of Goshen into blood. And the
design of Pharolr’s heart was strengthened, and he
would not hearken to them, as the Lord had said. And
Pharoh did what was needful to him, and went unto
his house, nor did he set his heart upon this plague.
And tlie Mizraee digged about the river for water to
drink, but could not find them pure ; for they were not
able to drink of the water from the river.
And seven days were completed after the Lord had
smitten the river, and the Word of the Lord had after¬
ward healed the river. And the Lord spoke to Mosheh,
Go in unto Pharoh and say to him. Thus saith the
Lord, Emancipate My people, that they may serve
before Me. But if thou refuse to set them free, behold,
I will plague all thy borders with frogs. And the
river shall multiply frogs, and they shall ascend and
come up into thy house, and into the bedchamber where
thou sleepest, and upon thy couch ; atid into the house
of thy servants, and among thy people, and into thy
ovens, and into thy baking-troughs, and upon thy body,
and upon the bodies of thy people, and upon all thy
servants, shall the frogs have power. ,
VIII. And the Lord said to Mosheh, Lift up thy hand
with thy rod over the rivers, over the trenches, and over
ON EXODUS.
463
VIII.]
the canals, [Jerusalem. Pools,] and I will bring up
the frogs upon the land of Mizraim. And Aharon
uplifted his hand over the waters of Mizraim, and the
plague of frogs came up and covered the land of Miz¬
raim. But Mosheli (himself) did not smite the waters,
either with the blood or with the frogs, because through
them (the waters of the Nile) he had (found) safety at
the time that his mother laid him in the river. And
the astrologers did likewise by their burnings, and
brought up frogs upon the land of Mizraim. And
Pharoh called to Mosheh and to Aharon, saying, Pray
before the Lord, that He may remove the frogs from me
and from my people ; and I will release the people to
offer the sacrifices of a feast before the Lord. And
Mosheh said to Pharoh, Glorify thyself on account of
me. At what time dost thou request that I should
pray for thee, and for thy servants, and' for thy people,
that the frogs may be destroyed from thee and from
thy house, and be left only in the river ? And he said,
To-morrow. And he said. According to thy word :
that thou mayest know that there is none like the Lord
our God. [Jerusalem. Give a sign, and keep -at a
distance, till I shall have prayed for thee.] And the
frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy house, and
from thy servants, and from thy people ; and those only
that are in the river shall remain. And Mosheh and
Aharon went out from Pharoh, and Mosheh prayed
before the Lord respecting the frogs, as he had proposed
to Pharoh. And the Lord did according to the word
of Mosheh ; and the frogs died from the houses and from
the courts and from the field, and they collected them
in heaps and heaps, [Jerusalem. Heaps, heaps,] and
the land was corrupted. And Pharoh saw that he was
refreshed from hi! molestation, but hardened his heart,
and would not hearken to them, as the Lord had said.
464 TARGUH OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Speak unto Aharon,
Lift up thy rod and smite the dust of the earth, and it
shall become venomous insects 8 in all the land of Miz-
raim. But it shall not be by thee that the ground
shall be smitten, because therein for thee was (the
means of) safety when thou hadst slain the Mizraite and
it received him. And they did so, and Aharon lifted
up his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the
ground, and it became a plague of venomous insects
upon the flesh of men and of cattle ; all the dust of the
earth was changed to become insects, in all the land of
Mizraim. And the astrologers wrought with their
burnings to bring forth the insects, but were not able ;
and the plague of insects prevailed upon men and
upon cattle. And the astrologers said to Pharoh,
This is not by the power or strength of Mosheh and
Aharon ; but this is a plague sent from before the Lord.
Yet the design of Pharoh's heart was strengthened, and
he would not hearken to them, as the Lord had said.
And the Lord spake to Mosheh, Arise in the morn¬
ing, and stand before Pharoh : behold, he goeth forth to
observe divinations at the wrater, as a magician ; and
thou shalt say to him. Thus saith the Lord, Emancipate
My people, that they may worship before Me ; but if
thou wilt not set My people free, behold, I will stir up
among thee, and thy servants, and thy people, and thy
house, a mixed multitude of wild beasts, [Jerusalem.
A commixture,] and the houses of the Mizraee shall be
filled with a swarm of wild beasts, and they shall be
upon the land also. And I will do wonders that day
in the land of Goshen where My people dwell, that
there no swarms of wild beasts shall be ; — that thou
mavest know that I the Lord am the Ruler in the midst
of the land. And I will appoint redemption for My
8 Kalma , “ genus fornicce.” — Castel. Heb. text, kinnim, “ gnats.”
ON EXODUS.
465
IX.]
people, and upon thy people will I lay the plague : to¬
morrow this sign shall be. And the Lord did so ; and
sent the mixed multitude of wild beasts in strength to
the house of Pharoh, and to the house of his servants ;
and in all the land of Mizraim the inhabitants of the
land were devastated from the swarm of wild beasts.
And Pharoh called to Mosheh and to Aharon, saying,
Go, worship with festival sacrifices before the Lord
your God in this land. But Mosheh said, It will not
be right to do so; because we shall take sheep, which
are the abomination of the Mizraee, and offer them
before the Lord our God. Behold, if we offer the
abomination of the Mizraee before them, they would
stone us with stones as an act of justice. We will go
three days' journey into the wilderness to offer the
festival sacrifices before our God, as He hath bidden us.
And Pharoh said, I will release you to sacrifice before
the Lord your God in the wilderness, only you shall
not go to a greater distance. Pray, (too,) for me.
And Mosheh said, I will go forth from thee, and pray
before the Lord to remove the swarm of wild beasts
from Pharoh, and from his servants, and from his
people, to-morrow ; only let not Pharoh add to deceive,
in not releasing the people to offer the festal sacrifices
before the Lord. And Mosheh went out from Pharoh,
and prayed before the Lord ; and the Lord did accord¬
ing to the word of the prayer of Mosheh, and removed
the swarm of wild beasts from Pharoh, and from his
servants, and from his people ; not one was left. Yet
did Pharoh strengthen the design of his heart this
time also, and released not the people.
IX. And the Lord said to Mosheh, Go in to Pharoh,
and say to him, Thus saith the Lord, the God of the
Jehudaee, Emancipate My people, that they may worship
before Me. But if thou refuse to release, and hitherto
x 5
466 • TAIiGTJM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
thou hast constrained them, behold, the stroke of the
Lord's hand shall be as it hath not been yet, upon thy
cattle that are in the field, upon the horses, and upon
the asses, upon the camels, oxen, and sheep, with a very
mighty death. [Jerusalem. Great conturbation.]
And the Lord will work wonders between the flocks of
Israel and the flocks of the Mizraee, that not any of
those which belong to the sons of Israel shall die. And
the Lord set a time, saying, To-morrow will the Lord
do this thing in the land. f And the Lord did that
thing the day after, and all the cattle of the Mizraee
died ; but of the cattle of the sons of Israel died not
one. And Pharoh sent certain to look ; and, behold,
not one of the cattle of the sons of Israel had died, not
even one. But the disposition of Pharoh's heart was
aggravated, and he would not release the people.
And the Lord said to Mosheh and to Aharon, Take
with you hands-full of fine ashes from the furnace, and
let Mosheh sprinkle them towards the height of the
heavens in the sight of Pharoh. And the dust shall be
upon all the land of Mizraim, upon man and upon beast,
for a boil, producing tumours in all the land of Miz¬
raim. [Jerusalem. Tumours.] And they took ashes
of the furnace, and arose to meet Pharoh ; and Mosheh
sprinkled them towards the height of the heaveus ; and
there came a boil multiplying tumours upon man and
beast. And the astrologers could not stand before
Mosheh, on account of the boil ; for the plague of the
boil was upon the astrologers, and upon all the Mizraee.
And the Lord hardened the design of Pharoh's heart,
and he would not hearken to them, as the Lord had
said to Mosheh.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Arise in the morning,
and place thyself before Pharoh, and say to him, Thus
saith the Lord, the God of the Jehudaee, Emancipate
ON EXODUS.
467
IX.]
My people, that they may worship before Me. For at
this time I will send upon thee a plague from the
heavens, and all My plagues wherewith I have plagued
thee thou wilt cause to return upon thy heart, and upon
thy servants, and upon thy people, (plagues) which have
been sent from before Me, and not from the magic of
the sons of men, that thou mayest know that there is
none like Me in all the earth. Now could I send the
plague of My strength by judgment (or, with justice) to
strike thee and thy peopl.e with death, and destroy thee
from the earth ; but verily I have spared thee alive, not
that I may benefit thee, but that My power may be
made manifest to thee, and that My Holy Name may be
made known in all the earth. Hitherto hast thou
tyrannized over My people, instead of releasing them.
[Jerusalem. BeLentlessly.] Behold, at this time to¬
morrow I will cause to come down from the treasures
of the heavens a mighty hail, the like of which hath
never been in Mizraim since the day when men were
settled upon it until now. But now send, gather
together thy flocks, and all that thou hast in the field :
(for) upon all men and cattle that are found in the
field, and not gathered together within the house, will
the hail come down, and they will die. Hiob, (Job,)
who reverenced the word of the Lord, among the ser¬
vants of Pharoh, gathered together his servants and his
flocks within the house. But Bileam, who did not set
his heart upon the word of the Lord, left his servants
and his flocks in the field.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Uplift thy hand
towards the height of the heavens, and there shall be
hail on all the land of Mizraim, upon men, and upon
beasts, and upon every herb of the field in the land of
Mizraim. And Mosheh lifted up his rod toward the
height of the heavens, and the Lord gave forth thunders
468 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
and hailstones with flaming fire upon the ground ; the
Lord made the hail descend upon the land of Mizraim.
And there was hail, and fire darting among the hail
with exceeding force : unto it had never been the like
in all the land of Mizraim ever since it was a nation
and a kingdom. And the hail smote in all the land of
Mizraim whatsoever was in the field, of men and of
cattle, and all the herbage of the field the hail smote,
and every tree of the field it shattered and uprooted.
Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of
Israel were, there was no hail. And Pharoh sent certain
to call Mosheh and Aharon; and he said to them.
This time I have sinned. I know that the Lord is a
righteous God, and that I and my people have deserved
every one of these plagues. Intercede before the Lord,
that with Him it may be enough, and there may be no
more maledictory thunders nor hail from the presence
of the Lord ; and I will release you, and no longer
hinder. And Mosheh said to him, When I have gone
out from thee into the city, I will outspread my hands
in prayer before the Lord, and the thunders shall cease,
and there shall be no more hail ; that you may know
that the earth is the Lord's. But I know that ere thou
and thy servants release the people, they will have to be
afraid before the Lord God. And the flax and the
barley were beaten down, because the barley was in the
ear, and the flax was making pods. [Jerusalem. The
flax was (making) pods, for it had cast its flowers.] But
the wheat and the spelt were not smitten, because they
are later. And Mosheh and Aharon went out from
Pharoh to the suburb, and he stretched out his hands
in prayer before the Lord, and the thunders of the
curse were withheld, and the hail and rain that were
descending came not on the earth. And Pharoh saw
that the rain and hail and the thunders of the curse had
ON EXODUS.
469
X.]
ended, and he added to sin, and made strong the design
of his heart, both he and his servants. And Pharoh's
heart was made obstinate, and he would not release the
children of Israel, as the Lord had said through Mosheh.
SECTION XY.
BO EL PHAROH.
And the Lord spake to Mosheh, Go in unto Pharoh ;
for I have made strong the design of his heart, and the
design of the heart of his servants, to set these My
signs among them ; and that in the hearing of thy sons
and of thy children's children may be told the wonders
I have done in Mizraim, and the signs that I set among
them, that ye may know that I am the Lord. And
Mosheh and Aharon went in unto Pharoh, and said to
him. Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, How long
wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before Me ? Let
My people go, that they may worship before Me. But if
thou refuse to let My people go, behold, to-morrow I bring
the locust upon thy borders, and they shall cover the
face of the ground, so that it will be impossible to see
the ground, and shall destroy the remainder that wras
spared to you from the hail, and destroy every tree
which groweth for you out of the field. And they shall
fill thy house, and the houses of all thy servants, and
the houses of the Mizraee, (the like of) which neither
thy fathers nor thy forefathers have seen since the day
that they were upon the earth unto this day. And he
turned and went out from Pharoh.
And the servants of Pharoh said, How long shall
470 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
this man be a stumbling-block to us ? Let the men be
released, that they may worship before the Lord their
God. Art thou not aware that by His hand it will be
that the land of Mizraim shall be destroyed ? And he
commanded to bring back Mosheh and Aharon to
Pharoh, and said to them, Go, worship before the Lord
your God : but who are they that are to go ? And
Mosheh said. With our children and with our old men
will we go ; with our sons and with our daughters we
will go ; with our sheep and with our oxen we will go ;
for we have a solemn feast before the Lord. And he
said to them, So may the Word of the Lord be a help
to you : (but) how can I release (both) you and your
children ? The evil offence is in the look of your faces :
(you think to go onward) in the way that you would
walk, till the time that you shall have come to the house
of the place of your habitation. (It shall be) not so
as ye devise ; but the men only shall go and worship
before the Lord ; for that it was which ye demanded.
And he drave them out from before the face of
Pharoh.
And the Lord spake to Mosheh, Lift up thy hand
over the land of Mizraim for the locust, that he may
come up over the land of Mizraim, and destroy every
herb of the earth, whatsoever the hail hath left. And
Mosheh lifted up his rod over the land of Mizraim, and
the Lord brought an east wind upon the country all
that day and all the night; and in the morning the east
wind bare the locust. And the locust came up over all
the land of Mizraim, and settled in all the limits of
Mizraim exceedingly strong. Before him there had
been no locust so hard, nor will there be like him. And
he covered the face of all the land, until the land was
darkened, and every herb of the ground was consumed,
and all the fruit of the tree that the hail had left ; and
X.] ON EXODUS. 471
nothing green of tree or herb of the field was left in
all the land of Mizraim.
And Pharoh made haste, and sent certain to call
Mosheh and Aharon. And he said, I have sinned before
the Lord your God and against you. But now, pardon
my sin only this once, and pray before the Lord, that He
would only remove from me this death. And he went
out from Pharoh, and prayed before the Lord. And
the Lord turned a wind from the west of exceeding
strength, and it carried away the locust, and bare him
to the sea of Suph : there was not one locust left in all
the borders of Mizraim. And even such as had been
salted in vessels for needed food, those, too, the western
wind bare away, and they went. But the Lord
strengthened the design of PharolPs heart, and he would
not release the children of Israel.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Lift up thy hand
towards the height of the heavens, and there shall be
darkness over all the land of Mizraim, in the morning,
at the passing away of the first darkness of the night.
[Jerusalem. And they shall serve in darkness.] And
Mosheh stretched out his hand towards the height of
the heavens, and there was dark darkness in all the
land of Mizraim three days. No man saw his brother,
and none arose from his place three days. But among
all the sons of Israel there was light, that the wicked
among them who died might be buried, and that the
righteous might be occupied with the precepts of the
law in their dwellings. And at the end of three days
Pharoh called Mosheh, and said, Go, worship before
the Lord ; only your sheep and your oxen shall abide
with me : your children also may go with you. But
Mosheh said, Thou must also give into our hands holy
oblations and burnt offerings, that we may perform
service before the Lord our God. Our flocks, more-
472 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAi .
over, must go with us ; not one hoof of them shall
remain ; for from them we are to take, to do service
before the Lord our God. We cannot leave them;
for we know not (as yet) in what manner we are
to worship before the Lord, until we come thither.
But the Lord made strong the design of Pharoh's
heart, and he would not release them. And Pharoh
said to him, Go from me. Beware that thou add
not to see my face to speak before me one of these
words that are so hard : for in the day that thou
seest my face, my anger will grow strong against thee,
and I will deliver thee into the hands of the men who
seek thy life to take it. And Mosheh said, Thou hast
spoken fairly. While I was dwelling in Midian, it was
told me in a word from before the Lord, that the men
who had sought to kill me had fallen from their means,
and were reckoned with the dead. At the end there
will be no mercy upon thee; but I will pray, and the
plague shall be restrained from thee. And now I will
see thy face no more. [Jerusalem. And Pharoh said
to him, Go from me. Beware that thou increase not
my anger against thee by saying, Are not these hard
words that thou speakest to me ? Yerily Pharoh
would rather die than hear thy words. Beware, lest my
anger grow strong against thee, and I deliver thee into
the hands of this people, who require thy life to slay
thee. And Mosheh said, Thou hast spoken truly. But
it was certified to me at the former time when I dwelt
in Midian, that all the men were dead who sought to
kill my life. At the end there will be no mercy upon
thee. Yet I will pray for thee, and this plague shall
be restrained. But a tenth plague is for Pharoh, of
(which the victim will be) thy firstborn sou. And
Mosheh said to him. Thou hast spoken fairly the truth :
I will see thy face no more.]
ON EXODUS.
473
XI.]
XI. And the Lord spake unto Mosheh, Yet one
stroke will I bring upon Pharoh and upon the Mizraee,
which shall be greater than all, and afterward will he
send you hence : when he releases, there shall be to him¬
self an end : driving, he will drive you forth from hence.
Speak now in the hearing of the people, That every man
shall demand from his Mizraite friend, and every woman
of her Mizraite friend, vessels of silver and vessels of
gold. And the Lord gave the people favour before the
Mizraee ; also the man Mosheh was very great in the
land of Mizraim before the servants of Pharoh and
before his people.
And Mosheh spake (or, had spoken) to Pharoh,
Thus saith the Lord, At this hour of the following night
will I be revealed in the midst of the Mizraee, and
every firstborn in the land of Mizraim shall die : from
the firstborn of Pharoh who should sit upon the throne
of his kingdom, unto the firstborn son of the humblest
mother in Mizraim who grindeth behind the mills, and
all the firstborn of cattle. And there will be a great
cry in all the land of Mizraim, because like the plague
of this night there hath not been, and like the plague
of this night there never will be one. But any of the
children of Israel a dog shall not harm by lifting up his
tongue against either man or beast; that they may
know that the Lord maketh distinction between the
Mizraites and the sons of Israel. And thou shalt send
down all thy servants to me, coming and beseeching me,
saying, Go forth, thou and all the people who are with
thee ; and afterwards I will go. And he went out from
Pharoh in great anger. But the Lord said to Mosheh,
Pharoh will not hearken to you ; that I may multiply
My wonders in the land of Mizraim. And Mosheh and
Aharon did all these wonders before Pharoh ; and the
Lord strengthened the design of PharolPs heart.
474 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
and he would not release the sons of Israel from his
land.
XII. And the Lord spake to Mosheh and to Aharon
in the land of Mizraim, saying, This month is ordained
to be to you the beginning of the months ; and from it
you shall begin to number for festivals, and times, and
cycles ; it shall be to you the first of the number of the
months of the year. Speak to all the congregation of the
children of Israel, saying, In the tenth of this month,
whose time is appointed for this time (occasion), and not
for (coming) generations, they shall take to them a
lamb for the house of a family, and, if many in number,
they shall take a lamb for a house : but if the men of
the house are fewer than ten in number, in proportion
to a sufficient number to eat the lamb, he and his
neighbour who is nearest to his house shall take accord¬
ing to the number of souls : each man according to the
sufficiency of his eating shall be counted for the lamb.
The lamb shall be perfect, a male, the son of a year he
shall be to you ; from the sheep or from the young goats
ye may take. And it shall be bound and reserved for
you until the fourteenth day of this month, that you
may not know the fear of the Mizraee when they see it ;
and ye shall kill him according to the rite of all the
congregation of the assembly of Israel, between the
suns.1 And you shall take of the blood and set it upon
the two posts and upon the upper board outside of the
houses in which you eat and sleep. And you shall eat
the flesh on that night, the fifteenth of Nisan, until the
dividing of the night roasted with fire, [Jerusalem.
9 Hilketha, “custom.”
1 “ Between the suns,” i. e., the time between sunset and starlight.
“ We have two evenings ; the first the setting of the sun, and the second
the ceasing of the light which is reflected in the clouds ; and between both
lies an interval of about an hour and twenty minutes.” — Eben Ezra.
It is, therefore, the time which we call “ twilight.”
ON EXODUS.
475
XII.]
Boasted,] without leaven, with horehound and lettuce
shall you eat it. Eat not of it while living, neither
boiled in wine, or oil, or other fluids, neither boiled in
water, but roasted with fire, with its head, and its feet,
and its inwards. Nor shall any be left of it till the
morning ; but what may remain of it in the morning
you shall cover over, and in the daylight of the sixteenth
day burn with fire ; for y ou may not burn the residue
of a holy oblation on the feast day. And according
to this manner you shall eat it, this time, but not
in (other) generations : your loins shall be girded,
[Jerusalem. Bound by the precepts of the law,] your
shoes on your feet, and your staves in your hands ; and
you shall eat in the fear of the majesty of the Lord of
the world ; because mercy hath been shown to you from
before the Lord. And I will be revealed in the land
of Mizraim in the majesty of My glory this night, and
with Me ninety thousand myriads of destroying angels ;
and I will slay all the firstborn in the land of Mizraim,
of man and of beast, and against all the idols of the
Mizraee I will execute four judgments : the molten
idols shall be melted, the idols of stone be broken, the
idols of clay shall be shattered, and the idols of wood be
made dust, that the Mizraee may know that I am the
J_jord. And the blood of the paschal oblation, (like)
the matter of circumcision, shall be a bail for you, to
become a sign upon the houses where you dwell ; and I
will look upon the worth of the blood, and will spare
you; and the angel of death, to whom is given the
power to destroy, shall have no dominion over you in
the slaughter of the Mizraee. And this day shall be to
you for a memorial, and you shall celebrate it a festival
before the Lord in your generations; by a perpetual
statute shall you solemnize it. Seven days you shall eat
unleavened bread : in the dividing of the day which
476 TAPGTJM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
precedes the feast you shall put away leaven from your
houses; for whosoever eateth what is leavened, from
the first day of the feast until the seventh day, that man
shall be destroyed from Israel. And on the first day
there shall be a holy congregation, and on the seventh
day there shall be to you a holy congregation. No
work shall be done among you, only that which must be
done for every one's eating may be done by you. And
you shall observe the feast of the unleavened bread,
because in this same day the Lord will bring out your
hosts free from the land of Mizraim ; and you shall
observe this day in your generations, a statute for ever.
In Nisan, on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall
kill the passover, and at evening on the fifteenth you
shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first of the
month. On the evening of the twenty-second you may
eat leavened bread. Por seven days leaven shall not be
found in your houses ; for whosoever eateth of leaven,
that man shall perish from the congregation of Israel,
whether he be a stranger or home-bred in the land.
Any mixture of leaven you shall not eat ; in every place
of your habitation you shall eat unleavened bread.
And Mosheh called all the elders of Israel, and said to
them, Withdraw your hands from the idols of the
Mizraee, and take to you from the offspring of the flock,
according to your houses, and kill the paschal lamb.
And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the
blood that is in the earthen vessel, and upon the upper
bar without and upon the two posts you shall sprinkle
of the blood which is in the earthen vessel, and not a
man of you must come forth from the door of his house
till the morning. Por the Glory of the Lord will be
manifested in striking the Mizraee, and He will see the
blood upon the lintel and upon the two posts, and the
Word of the Lord will spread His protection over the
XII.] ON EXODUS. 477
door, and the destroying angel will not be permitted to
enter your houses to smite.
And you shall observe this thing for a statute to thee
and to thy sons for a memorial for ever. And it shall
be when you are come into the land that the Lord will
give to you, as He hath spoken, that from the time of
your coming you shall observe this service. And it
shall be that when at that time your children shall say
to you, What is this your service ? you shall say, It is
the sacrifice of mercy before the Lord, who had mercy
in His Word upon the houses of the sons of Israel in
Mizraim, when He destroyed the Mizraee, and spared our
houses. And when the house of Israel heard this word
from the mouth of Mosheh, they bowed and worshipped.
And the sons of Israel went and did as the Lord com¬
manded Mosheh and Aharon, so did they hasten and do.
And it was in the dividing of the night of the fif¬
teenth, that the Word of the Lord slew all the firstborn
in the land of Mizraim, from the firstborn son of Pha-
roh, who would have sat upon the throne of his king¬
dom, unto the firstborn sons of the kings who were
captives in the dungeon as hostages under Pharoh’s
hand ; and who, for having rejoiced at the servitude of
Israel, were punished as (the Mizraee) : and all the
firstborn of the cattle that did the work of the Mizraee
died also.
And Pharoh rose up in that night, and all the rest of
his servants, and all the rest of the Mizraee ; and there
was a great cry, because there was no house of the
Mizraee where the firstborn was not dead. And the
border of the land of Mizraim extended four hundred
pharsee ; but the land of Goshen, where Mosheh and
the sons of Israel were, was in the midst of the land of
Mizraim ; and the royal palace of Pharoh was at the
entrance of the land of Mizraim. But when he cried to
478 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
Mosheli and to Aharon, in the night of the Pascha, his
voice was heard unto the land of Goshen; Pharoli
crying with a voice of woe, and saying thus : Arise, Go
forth from among my people, both you and the sons of
Israel ; and go, worship before the Lord, as you have
said ; your sheep also take, and whatever of mine you
have spoken about, and go ; and nothing ask I of you
except that you pray for me that I may not die. When
Mosheli and Aharon, and the sons of Israel, heard the
voice of PharolPs weeping, they were not mindful, until
he came himself, and all his servants, and all the
Mizraee, and urged all the people of the house of Israel,
that they might hasten to send them forth from the land ;
Por, said they, if they prolong here one hour more,
behold, we are all dead. [Jerusalem. Por, said the
Mizraee, if Israel delay one hour (longer),' behold, all
Mizraim dies.]
And the people carried their dough upon their heads,
being unleavened, and what remained to them of the
paschal cakes and bitter things they carried, bound up
with their raiment, upon their shoulders. And the
sons of Israel did according to the word of Mosheh,
and asked of the Mizraee vessels of silver and vessels of
gold. And the Lord gave the people favour and com¬
passion before the Mizraee, and they brought forth to
them, and they emptied the Mizraee of their riches.
And the sons of Israel moved forth from Pilusin
towards Succoth, a hundred and thirty thousand, pro¬
tected there by seven clouds of glory on their f<^ur
sides : one above them, that neither hail nor tain might
fall upon them, nor that they should be burned by the
heat of the sun ; one beneath them, that they might
not be hurt by thorns, serpents, or scorpions ; and one
went before them, to make the valleys even, and the
mountains low, and to prepare them a place of habita-
ON EXODUS.
479
XII.]
tion. And they were about six hundred thousand men,
journeying on foot, none riding on horses except the
children, five to every man;2 and a multitude of
strangers, [Jerusalem. A mixed multitude,] two hun¬
dred and forty myriads, went up with them, and sheep,
a,nd oxen, and cattle, very many. And they divided
the dough which they brought out of Mizraim, which
they had carried on their heads, and it was baked for
them by the heat of the sun, (into) unleavened cakes,
because it had not fermented ; for the Mizraee had
thrust them out, neither could they delay; and it was
sufficient for them to eat until the fifteenth of the month
Ijar ; because they had not prepared provision for the
way.
And the days of the dwelling of the sons of Israel in
Mizraim were thirty weeks of years, (thirty times seven
years,) which is the sum of two hundred and ten years.
But the number of four hundred and thirty years (had
passed away since) the Lord spake to Abraham,3 in the
hour that He spake with him on the fifteenth of Nisan,
between the divided parts, until the day that they went
out of Mizraim. And it was at the end of thirty years
from the making of this covenant, that Xzhak was born ;
and thence until they went out of Mizraim four hun¬
dred (years), on the selfsame day it was that all the
hosts of the Lord went forth made free from the land of
Mizraim.
Lour nights are there written in the Book of Memo¬
rials before the Lord of the world. Night the first, _
when He was revealed in creating the world; the
second, — when He was revealed to Abraham; the
third,— when He was revealed in Mizraim, His hand
killing all the firstborn of Mizraim, and His right
hand saving the firstborn of Israel ; the fourth,— when
2 “ Five and five.” 3 Qen> xy
480 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
He will yet be revealed to liberate the people of the
house of Israel from among the nations. And all these
are called Nights to be observed ; for so explained
Mosheh, and said thereof, It is to be observed on
account of the liberation which is from the Lord, to
lead forth the people of the sons of Israel from the land
of Mizraim. This is that Night of preservation from
the destroying angel for all the sons of Israel who were
in Mizraim, and of redemption of their generations from
their captivity.
[Jerusalem Targum. It is a night to be observed
and celebrated for the liberation from before the Lord
in bringing forth the sons of Israel, made free from the
land of Mizraim. Lour nights are there written in the
Book of Memorial. Night first; when the Word of
the Lord was revealed upon the world as it was created ;
when the world was without form and void, and darkness
was spread upon the face of the deep, and the Word of
the Lord illuminated and made it light ; and he called it
the first night. Night second ; when the Word of the
Lord was revealed unto Abraham between the divided
parts ; when Abraham was a son of a hundred years,
and Sarah was a daughter of ninety years, and that
which the Scripture saith was confirmed, — Abraham a
hundred years, can he beget ? and Sarah, ninety years old,
can she bear? Was not our father Izhak a son of
thirty and seven years, at the time he was offered upon
the altar? The heavens were (then) bowed down and
brought low, and Izhak saw their realities,4 and his eyes
were blinded at the sight, and he called it the second
night. The third night ; when the Word of the Lord was
revealed upon theMizraee, at the dividing of the night ;
His right hand slew the firstborn of the Mizraee, and
His right hand spared the firstborn of Israel ; to fulfil
4 Or, “ perfections.”
ON EXODUS.
481
XIII.]
what the Scripture hath said, Israel is My firstborn
son. And he called it the third night. Night the
fourth ; when the end of the age will be accomplished,
that it might be dissolved, the bands of wickedness
destroyed, and the iron yoke broken. Mosheh came
forth from the midst of the desert; but the King
Meshiha (comes) from the midst of Koma. The Cloud
preceded that, and the Cloud will go before this one ; and
the Word of the Lord will lead between both, and they
shall proceed together. This is the night of the Pascha
before the Lord, to be observed and celebrated by the
sons of Israel in all their generations.]
A sojourner or a hired stranger shall not eat thereof.
In his own company he shall eat. Thou shalt not
carry any of the flesh out of the house from (thy) com¬
pany, nor send a gift one man to his neighbour ; and a
bone of him shall not be broken for the sake of eating
that which is within it. [Jerusalem. A sojourning
man and a hireling born of the Gentiles shall not eat of
it.] All the congregation of Israel shall mix together,
this one with that, one family with another, that they
may perform it. And if a proselyte sojourn with you,
and would perform the pascha before the Lord, let
every male belonging to him be circumcised, and so be
made fit to perform it ; and he shall be as the native of
the land : but no uncircumcised one of the sons of
Israel shall eat thereof. One law shall there be as to
all appointments for the native and for the proselyte
who sojourneth among you. And all the sons of
Israel did, as the Lord had commanded Mosheh and
Aharon, so did they. And it was on that same day
that the Lord brought forth the sons of Israel from the
land of Mizraim, with their hosts.
XIII. And the Lord spake unto Mosheh, saying,
Sanctify before Me every firstborn male. Whatsoever
Y
482 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
openetli the womb of all the sons of Israel among men,
and (also) among beasts, is Mine. AndMosheh said to
the people, Remember this the day in which you went out
free from Mizraim, from the house of the bondage of
slaves ; for by great strength of hand did the Lord bring
you forth from thence ; and you shall not eat leaven. This
day you are come out free ; on the fifteenth of Nisan,
which is the month of Abiba. And it shall be, when the
Lord your God shall have brought you into the land of
the Kenaanaee, and Hittaee, and Amoraee, and Hivaee,
and Jebusaee, which He sware by His Word unto Abra¬
ham to give thee, a land producing milk and honey, that
thou shalt keep this service in this month. Seven days
shalt thou eat unleavened cakes, and on the seventh day
shall be a feast before the Lord. Unleavened cakes
shall be eaten seven days, and nothing leavened shall be
seen with thee, nor leaven itself be seen with thee in all
thy borders. And thou shalt instruct thy son on that
day, saying, This precept is on account of what the
Word of the Lord did for me in miracles and wonders,
in bringing me forth from Mizraim. And this miracle
shall be inscribed and set forth upon the tephilla of the
hand, on the top of thy left (arm,) and for a memorial
inscribed and set forth upon the tephilla of thy head,
set between thine eyes on thy forehead ; 6 that the law
of the Lord may be in thy mouth, because in strength,
with a mighty hand, the Lord brought thee forth from
Mizraim. Thou shalt therefore keep this statute of
the Tephillin in the season to which it belongs, on
5 “The Israelite unites his thoughts with God by certain observance*
which Holy Writ ha9 taught him. He wears Tephillin at the head,
the organ of reflection and memory ; and lets from thence hang down
thongs which reach to the hand, and which he shall see at all time.
He wears the Tephillin of the hand, issuing from the heart, the source
of our powers. The Tephillin 4ell of the Unity of God, and of the Pro¬
vidence by which He is connected with His creatures.” — Sejpher Kusari.
ON EXODUS.
488
XIII.]
work days, not on sabbaths ^ or solemnities; and by
day, not by night. [Jerusalem. From these days to
those months.] And when I the Lord have brought thee
into the land of the Kenaanaee, which I have sworn to
thee and to thy fathers to give thee, thou shalt set
apart before the Lord every one that openeth the womb ;
and every animal that its dam beareth and that openeth
the wromb, if it be to thee a male, thou shalt sanctify
before the Lord. And every ass that openeth the
womb thou shalt redeem with a lamb ; and if thou
redeem him not, thou shalt cut him off; [Jerusalem.
Thou shalt kill him ;] and every firstborn man (child)
among thy sons thou shalt redeem ; but thy servant
thou mayest not redeem with money.
And when in future thy son shall ask thee, saying,
What is this ordinance of the firstborn ? thou shalt tell
him : By the power of a mighty hand the Lord
delivered us from Mizraim, redeeming us from the
house of the servitude of slaves. And when the Word
of the Lord had hardened the heart of Pharoh (that he
would) not deliver us, he killed all the firstborn in the
land of Mizraim, from the firstborn of man to the first¬
born of cattle ; therefore do I sacrifice before the Lord
every male that openeth the womb, and every firstborn
of my sons I redeem with silver. And it shall be
inscribed and set forth upon thy left hand, and on the
tephilla between thine eyebrows; because by mighty
strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Mizraim.
SECTION XVI.
BESHALACH.
And it was when Pharoh had released the people,
that the Lord did not conduct them by the way of the
484 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
land of the Phelishtaee, though that was the near one ;
for the Lord said, Lest the people be affrighted in seeing
their brethren who were killed in war, two hundred
thousand men of strength of the tribe of Ephraim, who
took shields, and lances, and weapons of war, and went
down to Gath to carry off the flocks of the Phelishtaee ; and
because they transgressed against the statute of the Word
of the Lord, and went forth from Mizraim three years
before the (appointed) end of their servitude, they were
delivered into the hand of the Phelishtaee, who slew
them. These are the dry bones which the Word of the
Lord restored to life by the ministry (hand) of Yeche-
zekel the prophet, in the vale of Dura ; but which, if
they (now) saw them, they would be afraid, and return
into Mizraim. But the Lord led the people round by
the way of the desert of the sea of Supli ; and every one
of the sons of Israel, with five children, went up from
the land of Mizraim. And Mosheh carried up the ark
in which were the bones of Joseph, from out of the Nilos,
and took them with him; because, adjuring, he adjured
the sons of Israel, saying, The Lord will surely remem¬
ber you, and you shall carry up my bones with you.
And they journeyed from Succoth, the place where
they had been covered with the clouds of glory, and
sojourned in Ethan, which is on the side of the desert.
[Jerusalem. 18. And the Word of the Lord con¬
ducted the people by the way of the desert of the sea of
Suph ; armed in good works went up the sons of Israel,
free from the land of Mizraim. 19. Por, adjuring, he
adjured the sons of Israel, saying, The Lord remember¬
ing, will remember you in His Word, and in His good
mercies. 20. Which cometh upon the end of the
desert.] And the glory of the Shekinah of the Lord
went before them by day in the column of the Cloud to
lead them in the way, and at night the column of the
Cloud removed behind them to darken on their pur-
ON EXODUS.
485
xiv.]
suers behind them ; but to be a column of fire to
enlighten them before, that they might go forward by
day and by night. The column of the Cloud departed
not by day, nor the column of fire by night, in leading
on before the people. [Jerusalem. It ceased not.]
XIY. And the Lord spake to Mosheh, saying, Speak
to the sons of Israel, that they return back, and encamp
before the Mouths of Hiratha,8 as they lie, created after
the manner (likeness) of the children of men, male and
female, and their eyes open to them : it is the place of
Tanes, which is between Migdol and the sea, before the
idol Zephon (Typhon), that is left of all the idols of
Mizraim. Lor the Mizraee will say, More excellent is
Baal Zephon than all idols, because it is left, and not
smitten ; and therefore will they come to worship it,
and will find that you are encamped nigh unto it, on
the border of the sea.
And Pharoh said to Dathan and Abiram, sons of
Israel, who had remained in Mizraim, The people of the
house of Israel are bewildered in the land : the idol
Zephon hath shut them in close upon the desert.
[Jerusalem. 2. And they shall return and encamp
before the caravansaries of Hiratha, between Migdol
and the sea, before the idol of Zephon, ye shall encamp
over against it. And Pharoh will say concerning the
people of the sons of Israel, They are losing themselves
in the wilderness : the idol of Peor hath shut them in
before the desert.] And I will strengthen the design
of Pharoh's heart to pursue after them, and I will be glo¬
rified upon Pharoh and upon his hosts, and the Mizraee
shall know that I am the Lord. And they did so. •
And the officers 7 who went with Israel announced
* They were two lofty rocks, with a defile between them,, called the
(pi) mouth of the rocks. — R. S. Izhaki, in loco.
7 Oktaraia : “ Octariones , prcefccti militares .”
486 TAltGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
that the people had fled. [Jerusalem. And it was
declared to the king.] And the heart of Pliaroh and
his servants was turned unto evil against the people ; and
they said, What is this that we have done ? for we have
released Israel from serving us. And he himself pre¬
pared his chariot, and his people led he with him by soft
words. And he took six hundred choice chariots, and all
the chariots of the Mizraee his servants, who were
afraid of the Word of the Lord, lest they should be
killed with pestilence, if not writh hail : and a third
mule, for drawing and following swiftly, he added to
each chariot. And the Lord hardened the design of
the heart of Pharoh, king of Mizraim, and he pursued
after the sons of Israel. But the sons of Israel, going
out with a high hand, were stronger than the Mizraee.
And the Mizraee followed after them, and came upon
them as they were encamped by the sea, gathering of
pearls and goodly stones, which the river Pishon had
carried from the garden of Eden into the Gihon, and
the Gihon had carried into the sea of Suph, and the sea
of Suph had cast upon its bank. But all the chariot-
horses of Pharoh, and his horsemen, and his hosts (were
coming) towards the Mouths of Hiratha, which are
before the idol Zephon. And Pharoh saw the idol
Zephon (still) preserved, and offered oblations before it.
And the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and,
behold, the Mizraee were pursuing them ; and they were
sorely afraid, and the children of Israel prayed before
the Lord. But the wicked generation said to Mosheh,
Because there were no places of burial for us in Mizraim,
hast thou led us forth to die in the wilderness ? What
hast thou done to us, in bringing us out of Mizraim ?
Was not this the word that we spake to thee in Miz¬
raim, Let the Lord manifest Himself over us and judge,
saying. Desist from us, and we will serve the Mizraee ?
ON EXODUS.
487
XIV.]
for it is better for us to serve the Mizraee than to perish
in the desert. [Jerusalem. 9. But the sons of Israel
had gone out free . Before the caravansaries of
Hiratha, — before the idol Zephon.]
Pour parties were made (among) the sons of Israel on
the shore of the Weedy Sea : one said. Let us go down
into the sea ; another said. Let us return into Mizraim ;
another said, Let us set against them the line of battle ;
and another said. Let us raise a cry against them, and
confound them. Unto the company which said. Let us
go down to the sea, spake Mosheh, Pear not, stand still,
and see the salvation of the Lord, which will be wrought
for you to-day. To the company which said, Let us
return into Mizraim, Mosheh said. You shall not
return ; for, though you see the Mizraee to-day, you
will see them no more for ever. To the company who
said. Let us set against them the line of battle, said
Mosheh, Contend not ; for the victory shall be wrought
among you from the presence of the Lord. And to
the company who said, Let us raise a cry against
them, Mosheh said, Be silent ; and give the glory, and
praise, and exaltation to your God.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Why standest thou
praying before Me ? Behold, the prayers of My people
have come before thy own : speak to the sons of Israel,
that they go forward ; and thou, lift up thy rod, and
stretch forth thy hand with it over the sea, and divide
it : and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of
the sea upon the ground. Por, behold, I will harden
the design of the heart of the Mizraee, and they will go
in after them ; and I will be glorified upon Pharoh and
upon all his hosts, upon his chariots and his horsemen ;
that the Mizraee may know that I am the Lord, when
I am glorified upon Pharoh, upon his chariots and
horsemen.
488 TAItGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP,
[Jerusalem. 13. Tour companies made the sons of
Israel, standing by the Weedy Sea. One said, Let us
fall upon the sea; another said, Let us return to
Mizraim; another said, Let us array battle against
them ; and another said, Let us shout against them to
confuse them. To that company who said. Let us fall
upon the sea, Mosheh said, Pear not ; stand still, and see
the salvation of the Lord which shall be wrought for
you this day. To the company who said, We will
return unto Mizraim, Mosheh said, Fear not; for as
you have seen the Mizraee to-day, you will see them no
more in bondage for ever. To the company who said.
We will array battle against them, Mosheh said, Fear
not ; the Lord, in the glory of His Shekinah, will work
the victory for your hosts. To the company who had
said, Let us shout against them to confound them,
Mosheh said, Fear not ; stand and be silent ; and give
the glory, and praise, and exaltation unto Eloha. 15.
And the Word of the Lord said to Mosheh, How long
standest thou praying before Me? Heard before Me
are thy prayers; but the prayers of My people have
preceded thine. Speak to the sons of Israel that they
go forward ; and thou, lift up thy rod and stretch forth
thy hand.]
And the Angel of the Lord who led the way before
the hosts <pf Israel went and came behind them ; and
the column of the Cloud went from before and stood
behind them : because the Mizraee threw darts and
stones at the Israelites, but the Cloud intercepted them ;
and it came between the host of Israel and the host of
the Mizraee ; a cloud, one half of which was light and
one half darkness. On the one side it darkened upon
the Mizraee, and on the other side it shined upon Israel
all night ; and one host did not attack the other all the
night.
ON EXODUS.
489
XIV.]
And Mosheh stretched out his hand over the sea,
with the great and glorious rod which was created at the
beginning, and on which were engraven and set forth
the Great and Glorious Name, and the ten signs which
had smitten the Mizraee, and the three fathers of the
world, and the six mothers, and the twelve tribes of
Jakob : and straightway the Lord brought a vehement
east wind upon the sea all night, and made the sea dry j
and divided the waters into twelve divisions, according
to the twelve tribes of Jacob. [Jerusalem. 20. And
the cloud was half light and half darkness : light, it
enlightened upon Israel ; and darkness, it darkened
upon Mizraim. And those came not against these, to
set battle in order, all the night. 21. And he stretched
forth.] And the children of Israel went through the midst
of the sea upon the ground, and the waters were con¬
gealed like a wall, three hundred miles on their right
hand and on their left.
And the Mizraee followed and went in after them, all
the horses of Pharoh, and his chariots and horsemen,
into the midst of the sea. And it was that in the
morning watch, at the time that the powers on high
come to offer praise, the Lord looked forth with anger
upon the hosts of the Mizraee from the column of fire,,
to hurl upon them flakes of fire and hail, and from the
column of cloud, and confounded the host of the
Mizraee ; and He brake (or, made rough) the wheels of
Pharolfis carriages, so that they drave them with hard¬
ship, and that they went on and left them behind. And
the Mizraee said one to another, Let us flee from the
people of the house of Israel; for this is the Word of
the Lord who fought for them in Mizraim.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Stretch forth thy hand
over the sea, that the waters may return upon the
Mizraee, upon their chariots and upon their horsemen.,
y 5
490 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
And Moslieh stretched out his hand over the sea, and
the sea returned at the time of the morning unto its
strength ; and the Mizraee fled from before its waves.
And the Lord strengthened the Mizraee in the midst of
the sea, that they should not (soon) die in the midst of
it, that they might receive the punishment which had
been sent to them. [Jerusalem. 24. And it was in
the time of the morning that the Word of the Lord
looked upon the host of the Mizraee, and hurled upon
them bitumen (naphtha), and fire, and stones of hail, and
conturbed the host of the Mizraee. And he unloosed
the wheels of their carriages, so that they went, dragging
them after them : the mules, going, after their way, before
the wheels, were turned, so as that the wheels went before
the mules, and they were cast into the sea. The
Mizraee answered and said one to another, Let us flee
from before the people of the sons of Israel ; for this is
the Word of the Lord who worketh victory for them in
their battles ; so that they set the back against Mizraim.
26. Stretch forth. 27. And Mosheh stretched forth
his hand over the sea, and the sea returned at the time
of the morning to its place.] And the waves of the
sea returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen,
and all the host of Pharoh who had gone in after them,
into the sea, not one among them was left. But the
sons of Israel walked on the ground in the midst of the
sea, and the waters to them were as walls on their
right hand and on their left. That day the Lord
redeemed and saved Israel from the hand of the Mizraee;
and Israel saw the Mizraee, dead and not dead, cast upon
the shore of the sea. And Israel saw the power of the
mighty hand by which the Lord had wrought the
miracles in Mizraim ; and the people feared before the
Lord, and believed in the Name of the Word of the
Lord, and in the prophecies of Mosheh His servant.
ON EXODUS.
491
XV.]
XV. Beliold: then sang Mosheh and the sons of
Israel this song of praise before the Lord, and saying
they said :
Thanksgiving and praise we bring before the Lord
Most High, who is glorified above the glorious, and
exalted above the exalted ; who punisheth by His Word
whomsoever glorifieth himself before Him.
Therefore when Pharoh the wicked bare himself
proudly before the Lord, and, being uplifted in his
heart, followed after the people of the sons of Israel,
their horses and their chariots He threw and buried in
the sea of Suph.
[Jerusalem. Then sang Mosheh and the sons of
Israel the praise of this song before the Lord, saying,
to say : Thanksgiving and praise bring we before the
Lord, who is high above the highest, and glorified above
the glorious, and who punisheth by His Word whom¬
soever glorifieth himself before Him. The horses and
their riders, because they bare themselves proudly and
followed after the people of the house of Israel, He hath
thrown and buried in the sea of Suph.]
The Lerd is Mighty, and greatly to be feared over all
the world. He spake in His Word, and became to me a
God of salvation.
Prom their mothers* breasts even the children have
given signs with their fingers to their fathers, and said,
This is our God, who nourished us with honey from the
rock, and with oil from the stone of clay, at the time
when our mothers went forth upon the face of the field
to give us birth, and leave us there ; and He sent an
angel who washed us and enwrapped us ; and now will
we praise Him : He is the God of our fathers, and we
will exalt Him.
The sons of Israel said, The Lord is a man making
war for us : from generation to generation He maketh
492 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
known His power unto the people of the house of Israel.
The Lord is His Name; according to His Name, so is
His power ; His Name shall be blessed for ever and
ever.
The chariots of Pharoh and his hosts He hath east
into the sea ; the goodliest of his young men hath He
thrown and drowned in the sea of Suph. The deep
covered them over, they went down, and are buried in
the depths of the sea, and are silent as a stone.
Thy right hand, 0 Lord, how glorious is it in power !
Thy right hand, O Lord, hath cut off the adversaries of
Thy people who rose against them to do them hurt.
And in the plenitude and greatness of Thy majesty
Thou hast destroyed the walls of the enemies of Thy
people.
Thou wilt pour upon them Thy fierce anger. Thou
wilt consume them as the burning fire prevails over the
stubble. Lor by the Word from before Thee the waters
became heaps ; they stood, as if bound like skins that
confine flowing water, and the depths were congealed in
the flood of the great sea.
Pharoh the wicked, the hater and adversary, did say,
I will follow after the people of the sons of Israel, and
will lay waste their camp on the bank of the sea : I will
set w7ar in array against them, and kill them, small and
great, despoil them of much spoil, bring them back into
great captivity, and divide their substance among my
people who make war : and when my soul is satisfied
with the blood of their slain, I will sheathe my sword,
having destroyed them with my right hand.
[Jerusalem. The Lord is Mighty, and greatly to be
praised and feared over all the world. He spake in
His Word, and for us became salvation.
[From their mothers' breasts have even the children
given signs with their fingers unto the fathers, and have
ON EXODUS.
493
XV.]
said to them, This is our Father, who nourished us with
honey from the rock, and gave us oil from the stone of
clay.
[The sons of Israel answered and said one to another.
He is our God, and we will praise Him ; the God of our
fathers, and we will exalt Him.
[The Lord in the glory of His Shekinah is He who
worketh victory for your arms. From one generation
to another He maketh known His power to the people
of the house of Israel.
[His Name is the Lord : as is His Name, so is His
power; let His name be glorified for ever and ever.
[Upon the chariots of Pharoh and his host He shot
arrows in the sea ; his goodly young men and his men
of strength He hath drowned in the sea of Suph. How
glorious is Thy right hand, O Lord, in power, which
hath broken and shattered the walls of the enemies of
Thy people !
[Pharoh the wicked, the hater and adversary, did say,
I will follow after the people of the sons of Israel, and
will overtake them encamped at the side of the sea. I
will lead them captive into great captivity, and despoil
them of great spoil; I will divide their substance
among my men of war; and when my soul shall be
satisfied with them, I will sheathe my sword, when I
shall have destroyed them with my right hand.]
Thou didst blow with the wind from before Thee, 0
Lord, and the waves of the sea covered them ; they
went down, and sank as lead in the proud waters.
"Who is like Thee among the exalted gods, 0 Lord,
who is like Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises,
doing wonders and manifestations for Thy people, the
house of Israel.?
The sea spake to the earth, Receive thy children :
but the earth spake to the sea, Receive thy murderers.
494 TARGUM OP PALESTINE [CHAP.
And the sea was not willing to overwhelm them, and
the earth was not willing to swallow them up. The
earth was afraid to receive them, lest they should be
required from her in the day of the great judgment in
the world to come, even as the blood of Habel will be
required of her : whereupon Thou, 0 Lord, didst stretch
forth Thy right hand in swearing to the earth that in
the world to come they should not be required of
her. And the earth opened her mouth and consumed
them.
[Jerusalem. The sea and the earth had controversy
one with the other. The sea said to the earth. Receive
thy children; and the earth said to the sea. Receive
thy murderers. But the earth willed not to swallow
them, and the sea willed not to overwhelm them. And
by the Word from before Thee Thou didst stretch forth
Thy right hand in oath, and didst swear unto the earth
that Thou wilt not require them of her in the world to
come. Then did the earth open her mouth and
swallow them up.]
Thou hast led in Thy mercy the people whom Thou
hast redeemed, and given them the heritage of the
mountain of Thy sanctuary, the place of the dwelling of
Thy holy Shekinah.
The nations will hear and be afraid ; terror will lay
hold upon them, even upon all the pillars of the inha¬
bitants of the Palestinian land. Behold, then will the
princes of the Edomaee be confounded, the strong ones
of Moaba will be seized with fear, their heart within
them will melt away, even all the pillars of the inha¬
bitants of the Kenaanian land.
Through the power of Thy mighty arm, let the
terrors of death fall upon them, let them be silent as a
stone, till the time when Thy people, 0 Lord, shall
have passed the streams of Arnona, till the time when
ON EXODUS.
495
£V.]
Thy people whom Thou didst ransom shall have crossed
the dividing current of Jabeka.
Thou wilt bring them in, and plant them on the
mountain of Thy sanctuary, tbe place which Thou hast
provided before the throne of Thy glory, the house of
Thy holy Shekinah, which Thou, O Lord, hast prepared,
Thy sanctuary that with both hands Thou hast
established.
When the people of the house of Israel beheld the
signs and manifestations which the Holy One, whose
Name be praised, had done at the sea of Suph, and the
power of His hand, the children of the captives answer¬
ing said one to the other, Come, and let us set the
crown of majesty on the head of our Eedeemer, who
maketh to pass over, and passeth not ; who changeth,
and is not changed ; whose is the crown of the king¬
dom ; the King of kings in this world ; whose, too,
is the kingdom in the world to come, for ever and
ever.
[Jerusalem. 16. Thou wilt make the terror of
death to fall upon them and undoing, by the power of
Thy mighty arm, that they shall be as silent as a stone,
until this people whom Thou hast redeemed shall have
gone over the dividing stream of Jobeka and that of
Jardena ; till this people shall have passed over whom
Thou hast ransomed for Thy Name. 17. Thou wilt
bring them in, and wilt plant them in the mountain of
Thy inheritance, the dwelling of the glory of Thy
holiness, which Thou, O Lord, hast prepared for Thyself,
the sanctuary of the Lord that with both hands He
hath established. 18. When the house of Israel had
beheld the signs and wonders that the Holy One, Blessed
be He, had wrought for them at the border of the
sea, — let His great Name be blessed for ever and ever, —
they gave glory and thanksgiving and exaltation unto
496 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
their God. The sons of Israel answered and said one
to another, Come, let us set the crown upon the head of
the Redeemer, who causeth to pass over, but is not
passed ; who changeth, but is not changed ; the King of
kings in this world; whose, too, is the crown of ‘the
kingdom of the world to come, and wrhose it will be for
ever and ever.]
Tor Pharoh's horses with his chariots and horsemen
went into the sea, and the Lord made the waters of the
sea to return upon them ; but the sons of Israel walked
upon the land in the midst of the sea, and there did
spring up sweet fountains and trees yielding food and
verdure and ripe fruits, (even) on the ground of the
sea.
And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aharon,
took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women
came out after her, dancing with tambourines and play¬
ing on instruments. [Jerusalem. With tambourines
dancing.] And Miriam sang to them, Let us give
thanks and praise before the Lord, for might and
supremacy are His; above the proud He is glorified,
and above the lofty He is exalted. When the wicked
Pharoh in his pride followed after the people of the
sons of Israel, his horses and his chariots did He cast
and drown in the sea of Suph.
And Mosheh made Israel go forward from the sea of
Suph, and they went forth into the wilderness of
Chalutsa. [Jerusalem. The way of Chalutsa.] And they
journeyed three days in the desert, empty of instruc¬
tion, and found no water. And they came to Marah,
hut could not drink the waters of Marah because they
were bitter ; therefore he called the name of it Marah.
And the people murmured against Mosheh, saying.
What shall we drink ? .[Jerusalem. And the people
contended.] And he prayed before the Lord, and the
ON EXODUS.
497
XV.]
Lord showed him the bitter tree of Ardiphne ; 8 and
he wrote upon it the great and glorious Name, and cast
it into the midst of the waters, and the waters were
rendered sweet. And there did the Word of the Lord
appoint to him the ordinance of the sabbath, and the
statute of honouring father and mother, the judgments
concerning wounds and bruises, and the punishments
wherewith offenders are punished ; and there he tried
(them) with the tenth trial, and said, If you will truly
hearken to the Word of the Lord your God, and do that
which is right before Him, and will listen to His precepts
and keep all His statutes, all those evil things that I
laid upon the Mizraee I will not lay upon thee : but if
thou wilt transgress against the word of the law, upon
thee shall they be sent. If thou convert, I will remove
them from thee ; for I am the Lord thy Healer.
[Jerusalem. 25. And Mosheh prayed before the
Lord, and the Word of the Lord showed him the tree
of Ardiphene, and he cast it into the midst of the
waters, and the waters were made sweet. There did
the Word of the Lord show unto him statutes and
orders of judgment, and there He tried him with trials
in the tenth trial. 26. Lor I am the Lord who healeth
thee by My Word.] And they came to Elim; and in
Elim were twelve fountains of water, a fountain for
each tribe ; and seventy palm-trees, corresponding with
the seventy elders of Israel : and they encamped there
by the waters. [Jerusalem. And they came to Elim,
■where were twelve fountains of water, answering to th
8 The Ardiphne, Hirdoph, and sometimes Rododaphne, is described
in Shemoth Rabba as a tree which grows beside water, and bears
flowers like lilies, of a bitter taste. The name is given also to the
bitter herbs eaten with the passover. (Tr. Pesachivi , 39.) The old
commentator in the Yalkut says, “This was one miracle within another,
— bitter waters made sweet by a bitter tree.”
498 TARGUM OP PALESTINE [CHAP.
twelve tribes of Israel, and seventy palm-trees, answer¬
ing to the seventy elders of the sanhedrin of Israel.]
XVI. And the whole congregation of Israel jour¬
neyed from Elim, and came to the desert of Sin, which
is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the
month of Ijar, the second month from their going forth
from the land of Mizraim. And on that day the bread
which they had brought out of Mizraim was finished.
And all the sons of Israel grumbled against Mosheh
and against Aharon in the desert. And the sons of
Israel said to them, Would that we had died by the
Word of the Lord in the land of Mizraim, when we sat
by the cisterns of meat, and ate bread and had enough !
Why hast thou brought us out into this wilderness to
kill all this congregation with hunger? And the Lord
said to Mosheh, Behold, I will cause the bread which
hath been laid up for you from the beginning to
descend from heaven : and the people shall go out and
gather the matter of a day by the day, that I may try
them whether they will keep the commandments of My
law or not. And on the sixth day they shall prepare
what they set before them to eat on the day of the
Sabbath ; and they shall mix in the houses and com¬
municate in their dwellings, so that by carrying this to
that, they may have double of that which they gather
from day to day.
And Mosheh and Aharon said to all the sons of
Israel, At evening you shall know that the Lord hath
brought you out free from the land of Mizraim ; and in
the morning will be revealed to you the glory of the
Shekinah of the Lord ; and wre, what are we accounted,
that you complain against us ? [Jerusalem. And we,
what are we accounted ?] And Mosheh said, By this
you shall know, when the Lord prepareth you at
evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to
ON EXODUS.
499
XVI.]
satisfy, that your complainings wherewith you complain
against Him are heard before the Lord. And we,
what are we accounted ? Your complaints are not
against us, but against the Word of the Lord. And
Mosheh said to Aharon, Bid all the congregation
of the sons of Israel draw nigh before the Lord ; for
your murmurings are heard before Him.
And it was while Aharon was speaking with all the
congregation of Israel that they turned towards the
desert, and, behold, the glory of the majesty of the
Lord was revealed in the cloud of glory. And the
Lord spake to Mosheh, saying, Hearing I have heard
the murmurings of the sons of Israel before Me. Speak:
thou with them, saying, Between the evenings (suns)
you shall eat flesh, and in the morning shall you eat
bread, and shall know that I am the Lord your God.
And it came to pass, that in the evening the phea¬
sants9 came up and covered the camp; and in the
morning there was a fall of holy dew, prepared as a
table, round about the camp : and the clouds ascended
and caused manna to descend upon the dew ; and there
was upon the face of the desert a minute (substance) in
lines,10 minute as the hoar frost upon the ground.
[Jerusalem:. As hoar frost.] And the sons of Israel
beheld, and wondered, and said, a man to his com¬
panion, Man Hu?1 for they knew not what it was.
And Mosheh said to them, It is the bread which hath
been laid up for you from the beginning in the heavens
on high, and now the Lord will give it you to eat.
This is the word which the Lord hath dictated : You
are to gather of it, every man according to the number
of your souls ; every man according to the mouth of the
number of the persons of his tabernacle, are you to take.
Amd the sons of Israel did so, and gathered manna
9 Phisyonin. 10 Mesargal . 1 “ What is it ? ”
500
TARGUM OF PALESTINE
[chap
more or less ; but when they measured by the homer
nothing remained above the measure of him who had
gathered much ; and he who had gathered little, wanted
nothing of the measure : every man according to the
mouth of his eating, so they gathered. And Mosheh
said to them, Let no man make a reserve of it till the
morning. But (some of them) hearkened not toj
Mosheh : Dathan and Abiram, men of wickedness, did!
reserve of it till the morning; but it produced worms
and putrefied; and Mosheh was ^ngry with them.
And they gathered from the time of the dawn until the
fourth hour of the day, every man according to his
eating; but at the fourth hour, when the sun had
waxed hot upon it, it liquefied, and made streams of
water, [Jerusalem. Became as Streams,] which flowed
away into the Great Sea; and wild animals that were
clean, and cattle, came to drink of it, and the sons of
Israel hunted, and ate them. And it came to pass on
the sixth day they gathered double bread, two homers a
man; and all the princes of the congregation came and
told Mosheh. And Mosheh said to them. This which
the Lord hath told you, do. To-morrow is the rest of
the holy Sabbath before the Lord : That which is need¬
ful to have to bake for to-morrow, bake to-day ; and
what is needful to boil for to-morrow, boil to-day : and
all whatever remaineth of that which you eat to-day lay
it up, and it shall be preserved until the morning.
And they laid it up until the morning, as Mosheh had
directed them ; and it did not corrupt, and no worm
was in it. And Mosheh said to them, Eat to-day,
because this is the Sabbath day before the Lord. This
day you will not find any in the field. "Six days you
shall gather, but on the seventh day, which is the Sab¬
bath, no manna will come down. And it was that on
the seventh day some of the wicked of the people went
ON EXODUS.
501
XVII.]
forth to gather manna, but they found none. And the
Lord said to Mosheh, How long will ye refuse to keep
My commandments and My laws ? Behold, because I
have given you the Sabbath, I gave you on the sixth
day bread for two days. Let every man abide in his
place, and not wander from one locality to another,
beyond four yards ; 3 nor let any man go forth to walk
beyond two thousand yards on the seventh day ; for the
people shall repose on the seventh day.
And the house of Israel called the name of it Manna ;
and it was like the seed of coriander,3 white, and the
taste of it like preparations of honey. [Jerusalem.
Like the seed of coriander, and the taste of it like con¬
fections of honey.] And Mosheh said, This is the
thing which the Lord hath commanded — to lay up of it
a homer-full to keep in your generations ; that perverse
generations may see the bread which you have eaten in
the wilderness, in your coming forth out of the land of
Mizraim. And Mosheh said to Aharon, Take one
earthen vase, and put therein a full homera of manna,
and lay it up before the Lord to be kept unto your
generations. As the Lord commanded Mosheh, so did
Aharon lay it up before the testimony to be kept.
And the children of Israel ate the manna forty years,
until they came to an inhabited land : manna did they
eat forty days after his death, until they had passed the
Jordena, and entered upon the borders of the land of
■Kenaan. And a homera is one tenth of three seahs.
XVII. And all the congregation of the sons of Israel
ijourneyed from the desert of Sin by their journeyings
according to the word of the Lord, and they encamped
in Bephidim, a place where their hands were idle in the
commandments of the law, and the fountains were dry,
ind there was no water for the people to drink. And
2 Garmidee. 3 Kusehar.
502 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
the wicked of the people contended with Mosheh, and
said, Give us water, that we may drink. And Mosheh
said to them, Why contend you with me? and why
tempt you before the Lord? But the people were
athirst for wrater, and the people murmured against
Mosheh, and said, Why hast thou made us come up
out of Mizraim, to kill us, and our children, and our
cattle with thirst ? And Mosheh prayed before the
Lord, saying, What shall I do for this people ? Yet a
very little, and they will stone me. And the Lord said,
to Mosheh, Pass over before the people, and take with
thee some of the elders of Israel, and the rod with,
which thou didst smite the river take in thy hand, and'
go from the face of their murmuring. Behold, I will
stand before thee there, on the spot where thou sawest
the impress 4 of the foot on Horeb ; and thou shalfc
smite the rock with thy rod, and therefrom shall come
forth waters for drinking, and the people shall drink.
And Mosheh did so before the elders of Israel. And
he called the name of that place Temptation and Strife;
because there the sons of Israel contended with Mosheh,
and because they tempted the Lord, saying, Doth the
glory of the majesty of the Lord truly dwell among us,
or not ?
And Amalek came from the land of the south, and
leaped on that night a thousand and six hundred miles;
and on account of the disagreement which had been
between Esau and Jakob, he came and waged war with
Israel in Rephidim, and took and killed (some of the)
men of the house of Dan ; for the cloud did not
embrace them, because of the strange worship that was
among them. And Mosheh said to Jeh'oshua, Choose
such men as are strong in the precepts, and victorious
in fight ; and go, under the Cloud of glory, and set
4 Ros/iem.
ON EXODUS.
503
XVII.]
battle in array against the hosts of Amalek. To-morrow
I will stand, prepared with fasting, with the righteous
fathers of the chiefs of the people, and the righteous
mothers who are like the hills, with the rod with which
the miracles have been wrought from before the Lord,
in my hand. And Jehoshua did as Mosheh had bidden
him, to wage war with Amalek. And Mosheh, and
Aharon, and Hur went up to the top of the height.
And it was, when Mosheh lifted up his hands in prayer,
that the house of Israel prevailed ; and when he rested
his hand from praying, that the house of Amalek pre¬
vailed. And the hands of Mosheh were heavy, because
the conflict was prolonged till the morrow, and the
deliverance of Israel was not prepared on that day ; and
he could not hold them up in prayer ; on which account
he would have afflicted his soul. And they took a
stone, and placed it under him, and he sat upon it;
and Aharon and Hur supported his hands, this the
one, and that the other; and his hands were out¬
stretched with firmness, (or, fidelity,) in prayer and fast¬
ing, until the going down of the sun. And Jehoshua
shattered Amalek, and cut off the heads of the strong
men of his people, by the mouth of the Word of the
Lord, with the slaughter of the sword. [Jerusa¬
lem. 11. And it was that when Mosheh lifted up his
hands in prayer, the house of Israel prevailed ; and
when his hands declined from prayer, Amalek prevailed ;
and (Israel) fell in the line of battle. 12. And the
hands of Mosheh were lifted up in prayer.]
And the Lord said unto Mosheh, Write this memo¬
rial in the book of the elders that were of old, and
these words in the hearing of Jehoshua, that blotting, I
will blot out the memory of Amalek from under the
heavens. And Mosheh builded an altar, and called the
name of it, The Word of the Lord is my banner; for
504 TAEGU M OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
the sign which He hath wrought (in this) place was on
my behalf. And he said, Because the Word of the
Lord hath sworn by the throne of His glory, that He
by His Word will fight against those of the house of
Amalek, and destroy them unto three generations ; from
the generation of this world, from the generation of the
Meshiha, and from the generation of the world to come.
[Jerusalem. 16. And he said, The oath hath come
forth from beneath the throne of the Great One, of all
the world the Lord ; the first king who will sit upon
the throne of the kingdom of the sons of Israel, Shaul,
the son of Kish, will set the battle in array against,
the house of Amalek, and will slay them ; and those of
them that remain will Mardekai and Esther destroy.
The Lord hath said by His Word that the memory of
Amalek shall perish to the age of ages.]
SECTION XVII.
JETHRO.
And Jethro, prince of Midian, the father-in-law of
Mosheh, heard all that the Lord had done for Mosheh
and for Israel His people, and that the Lord had brought
forth Israel from Mizraim. And Jethro the father-in-
law of Mosheh took Zipporah his wife, whom Mosheh
had sent back from him after going into Mizraim, and
his two sons, the name of the one of whom was Gershom,
Because, he had said, I am a dweller in a strange land
which is not mine; and the name of the other Eliezer,
Eor (he had said) the God of my fathers was my helper,
and saved me from the sword of Pharoli. And Jethro
ON EXODUS.
505
XVIII.]
the father-in-law of Mosheh, and the sons of Mosheh,
and his wife, came to Mosheli at the desert in which he
was sojourning hard by the mountain upon which the
glory of the Lord was revealed to Mosheli at the be¬
ginning. And he said to Mosheh, I, thy father-in-law
Jethro, have come to thee to be a proselyte ; and if thou
wilt not receive me on my own account, receive me for
the sake of thy wife and of her two sons who are with
her. And Mosheh came forth from under the cloud of
glory to meet his father-in-law, and did obeisance, and
kissed him, and made him a proselyte ; and they asked
of each other's welfare, and came to the tabernacle, the
house of instruction. And Mosheh recounted to his
father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharoh and
to the Mizraee on behalf of Israel; all the hardship they
had found in the way, at the sea of Suph, and at Marah,
and at Rephidim, and how Amalek had fought with them,
and the Lord had delivered them. And Jethro rejoiced
over all the good which the Lord had done unto Israel,
and that He had given them manna, and the well, and
that He had saved them from the hand of the Mizraee.
And Jethro said, Blessed be the Name of the Lord who
hath saved you from the hand of the Mizraee, and from
the hand of Pharoh, and hath saved the people from
under the tyranny of the Mizraee. Now have I known
that the Lord is stronger than all gods ; for by the very
thing by which the Mizraee wickedly would have
punished Israel by (drowning them in) the' sea, upon
themselves came the punishment, in being punished in
the sea. And Jethro took burnt offerings and holy
sacrifices before the Lord, and Aharon and all the elders
of Israel came to eat bread with the father-in-law of
Mosheh before the Lord ; and Mosheh stood and minis¬
tered before them.
And the day after, the day of reconciliation, Mosheh
506 TAEGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
sat to judge the people : and the people stood before
Mosheh from morning till evening. And the father-in-
law of Mosheh saw how much he toiled and laboured
for his people; and he said, What thing is this that
thou art doing to the people ? Why dost thou sit alone
to judge, and all the people stand before thee from
morning until evening? And Mosheh said to his
father-in-law, Because the people come to me to inquire
for instruction from before the Lord. When they have
a matter for judgment, they come to me, and I judge
between a man and his fellow, and make them to know
the statutes and the law of the Lord. And the father-
in-law of Mosh6h said to him, This thing that thou art
doing is not well ordered ; thou wilt verily wear thyself
away. Aharon also, and his sons, and the elders of thy
people, because the thing is heavier than thou art able
to do by thyself, (should take part in it.) Now hearken
to me, and I will advise thee; and may the Word of the
Lord be thy helper ! When thou art with the people
who seek instruction from before the Lord, thou shouldst
take their affair before the Lord> and give them counsel
about the statutes and laws, make them understand the
prayer they are to offer in the house of congregation,
the manner of visiting the sick, of burying the dead, of
being fruitful in doing good, and in the work and process
of justice, and how to conduct themselves among the
wicked. But thou shouldst elect from all the people
men of ability who fear the Lord, upright men who hate
to receive the mammon of dishonesty, and superappoint
them to be heads of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties,
and of tens. And let them judge the people at all times,
and every great matter bring to thee, but every little
thing let them judge themselves, that they may lighten
the burden that is upon thee, and bear it with thee. If
thou wilt do this, and exempt thyself from judging (every
ON EXODUS.
507
XIX.]
case) as the Lord shall give thee instruction, thou wilt
be able to continue to hear them ; and Aharon also and
his sons, and all the elders of this people, will resort to
the place of judgment in peace. And Mosheh hearkened
to his father-in-law, and did all that he had said. And
Mosheh selected able men from all Israel, and appointed
them chiefs over the people, rabbans of thousands, six
hundred ; rabbans of hundreds, six thousand ; rabbans
of fifties, twelve thousand ; and rabbans of tens, six
myriads. And they judged the people at all times ; a
hard case they brought to Mosheh ; but every light
matter they judged it. And Mosheh parted from his
father-in-law, and he went, and himself made proselytes
of all the children of his land.
XIX. In the third month of the Exodus of the sons
of Israel from the land of Mizraim, on that day, the
first of the month, came they to the desert ; for they had
journeyed from Rephidim, and had come to the desert of
Sinai ; and Israel encamped there in the desert, of one
heart, nigh to the mountain. And Mosheh on the
second day went up to the summit of the mount; and
the Lord called to him from the mount, saying. This
shalt thou speak to the men of the house of Jakob, and
instruct the house of Israel. [Jerusalem. And
Mosheh went up to seek instruction from before the
Lord ; and the Word of the Lord anticipated him from
the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou speak to the men
of the house of Jakob, and teach the congregation of
the sons of Israel.]
Ye have seen what I did to the Mizraee ; and how I
bare you upon the clouds as upon eagles' wings from
Pelusin, to take you to the place of the sanctuary, there
to solemnize the Pascha ; and in the same night brought
you back to Pelusin, and from thence have brought you
nigh, to (receive) the doctrine of My law. And now,
z 2
508 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
if you will truly hearken to My Word and keep My
covenant, you shall be more beloved before Me than all
the peoples on the face of the earth. And before Me
you shall be crowned kings, and sanctified priests, and a
holy people. These are the words thou shalt speak to
the sons of Israel. And Mosheh came that day, and
called the elders of the people, and set in order before
them all these words which the Lord had commanded.
And all the people responded together, and said, All
that the Lord hath spoken we will do.
And Mosheh carried back the words of the people
before the Lord. And the Lord said to Mosheh, Behold,
on the third day I will reveal Myself to thee in the depth *
of the cloud of glory, that the people may hear while I
speak with thee, and may believe in thee for ever. And
Mosheh delivered the words of the people before the Lord. :
[Jerusalem. 4. You have seen what vengeance I have
taken of the Mizraee, and (how) I bare you upon the
light clouds as upon eagles' wings, and brought you
nigh to the doctrine of My law. And now, if you will
truly hearken to the voice of My Word, and will keep
My covenant, you shall be unto My Name a distinct
people, and beloved as a precious treasure above all
peoples ; for all the earth is to the Name of the Lord.
And to My Name shall you be kings and priests and a
holy people. These are the words thou shalt speak.
And Mosheh came and called the sages of Israel, and
set in order before them all these words which the Word
of the Lord had commanded him. And all the people
answered together in the fulness of their heart, and said.
All that the Word of the Lord hath spoken, we will do.
And Mosheh returned the words of the people in prayer
before the Lord. And the Word of the Lord said to
Mosheh, Behold, My Word will be revealed to thee in the
thickness of the cloud, that the people may hear while
ON EXODUS.
509
XIX.]
I speak with thee, and may also believe for ever in the
words of the prophecy of thee, My servant Mosheh. And
Mosheh delivered the words of the people in prayer
before the Lord.]
And the Lord said to Mosheh on the fourth day, Go
unto the people, and prepare them to-day and to¬
morrow ; let them wash their raiment, and be prepared
on the third day ; for on the third day the Lord will
reveal Himself to the eyes of all the people, upon the
Mount of Sinai. And thou shalt set limits for the peo¬
ple, that they may stand round about the mountain, and
shalt say, Beware that you ascend not the mount, nor
come near its confines ; whoever cometh nigh the mount
will be surely put to death. Touch it not with the
hand ; for he will be stoned with hailstone, or be pierced
with arrows of fire ; whether beast or man, he will not
live. But when the voice of the trumpet is heard, they
may go up (forwards) towards the mount. [Jerusa¬
lem. No man shall touch it with the hand; for stoned
he will be stoned, or fiery arrows will flee against him ;
whether beast or man, he will not live. When the
trumpet soundeth, they may go up toward the moun¬
tain.] And Mosheh went down that day to the people,
and prepared the people, and they blanched their clothes.
And he said to the people, Be ready for the third day ;
abstain from the marriage-bed. [Jerusalem. And he
said to the people, Be ready for the third day ; abstain
from the marriage-bed.]
And it was on the third day, on the sixth of the
month, in the time of the morning, that on the moun¬
tain there were voices of thunders, and lightnings, and
mighty clouds of smoke, and a voice of a trumpet
exceeding loud ; and all the people in the camp
trembled. And Mosheh brought forth the people from
the camp to meet the glorious Presence of the Lord;
510
TARGUM OF PALESTINE
[chap.
and suddenly the Lord of the world uprooted the
mountain, and lifted it in the air, and it became
luminous as a beacon, and they stood beneath the
mountain. And all the mount of Sinai was in flame ;
for the heavens had overspread it, and He was revealed
over it in flaming fire, and the smoke went up as the
smoke of a furnace, and all the mountain quaked
greatly. [Jerusalem. And all mount Sinai sent up
smoke, because the glory of the Shekinah of the Lord
was revealed upon it in flame of fire.] And the voice
of the trumpet went forth, and grew stronger : (then)
Mosheh spake, and was answered from before the Lord
with a gracious and majestic voice, and with pleasant
and gracious words. And the Lord revealed Himself
on mount Sinai upon the summit of the mountain, and
the Lord called unto Mosheh from the summit of the
mount, and Mosheh went up. And the Lord said to
Mosheh, Descend, and warn the people, lest they come
directly before the Lord to gaze, and many of them fall.
The priests, also, who approach to minister before the
Lord, must be sanctified, lest the Lord destroy them.
And Mosheh said before the Lord, The people
cannot come up to mount Sinai, because Thou didst
instruct us, saying, Make limits to the mount, and
sanctify it. And the Lord said to him, Go down, and
then ascend, thou and Aharon with thee; but let not
the priests or the people directly come up to gaze before
the Lord, lest He slay them. And Mosheh went down
from the mountain to the people, and said to them,
Draw nigh, and hear the Law with Ten Words.*
[Jerusalem. And Mosheh went down from the moun¬
tain to the people, and said to them, Draw nigh, and
receive the Ten Words.]
XX. And the Lord spake all these words, saying :
5 Im asarti dibraia.
XX.] ON EXODUS. 511
[Jerusalem. And the Word of the Lord spake all
the excellency 6 of these words, saying :]
The first word, as it came forth from the mouth of
the Holy One, whose Name be blessed, was like storms,
and lightnings, and flames of fire, with a burning light
on His right hand and on His left. It winged its way
through the air of the heavens, and was made manifest
unto the camp of Israel, and returned, and was engraven
on the tables of the covenant that were given by the
hand of Mosheh, and were turned in them 7 from side
to side : and then called He, and said :
Sons of Israel My people, I am the Lord your God,
who brought you out free from the land of Mizraim,
from the house of the bondage of slaves. The second
word which came forth from the mouth of the Holy
One, whose name be blessed, was like storms, and light¬
nings, and flames of fire. A burning light was on His
right hand and on His left, and was borne through the air
of the heavens, returned, and was made manifest unto the
camp of Israel ; it returned, and was engraven on the
tables of the covenant, and was turned in them from side
to side. Then called He, and said, House of Israel, My
people, Thou shalt have no other God beside Me. You
shall not make to yourselves image or figure, or any simi¬
litude of what is in the heavens above, or on the earth
beneath, or in the waters under the earth. You shall
not bow down to them, or worship before them ; for I
the Lord your God am a jealous God and an avenger,
punishing with vengeance, recording the guilt of wicked
fathers upon rebellious children unto the third and
unto the fourth generation of them who hate Me ; but
keeping mercy and goodness for thousands of genera¬
tions of the righteous who love Me, and who keep My
commandments and My laws.
6 She bach, “praise.”
7 Mithhaphik behon.
O1* TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
My people of the house of Israel, Let no one of you
swear by the name of the Word of the Lord your God
in vain ; for in the day of the great judgment the Lord
will not hold guiltless any one who sweareth by His
name in vain.
My people of the house of Israel, Remember the day
of Shabbatha, to sanctify it. Six days you shall labour,
and do all your service : but the seventh day is (for)
rest and quietude before the Lord your God : you shall
not perform any work, you, and your sons, and your
daughters, and your servants, and your handmaids, and
your sojourners who are in your cities. Lor in six days
the Lord created the heavens, and the earth, and the
sea, and whatever is therein, and rested on the seventh
day : therefore the Lord hath blessed the day of Shab¬
batha, and sanctified it.
My people, the house of Israel, Let every man be
instructed in the honour of his father and in the honour
of his mother : that your days may be multiplied upon
the land which the Lord your God giveth you.
My people, the sons of Israel, You shall not be mur¬
derers ; you shall not be companions of or partakers
with murderers : in the congregations of Israel there
shall not be seen a murderous people; neither shall
your sons rise up after you and teach one another to
take part with murderers : for on account of the guilt
of murder the sword cometh forth upon the world.
My people of the house of Israel, Be ye not adul¬
terers, nor companions nor partakers with adulterers :
nor in the congregations of Israel shall there be seen an
adulterous people, that your sons may not arise after
you to teach one another to have part with adulterers :
for through the guilt of adultery death cometh forth
upon the world.
Sons of Israel My people. Ye shall not be thieves,
XX.]
ON EXODUS.
513
nor companions nor partakers with thieves : there shall
not be seen in the congregations of Israel a thievish
people ; that your sons may not arise after you to teach
one another to have part with thieves : for on account
of the guilt of theft famine cometh forth upon the
world.
Sons of Israel My people, Ye shall not testify against
your neighbours a testimony of falsehood, nor be com¬
panions or partakers with those who bear false witness :
nor shall there be seen in the congregations of Israel a
people who testify a testimony of falsehood; neither
shall your sons arise after you to teach one another to
have part with those who testify falsehood : for because
of the guilt of false testimony the clouds go up and the
rain cometh not down, and dryness cometh upon the
world.
Sons of Israel My people, Ye shall not be covetous,
nor companions or partakers with the covetous : nor shall
there be seen in the congregations of Israel a covetous
people ; that your sons may not arise after you to teach
one another to have part with the covetous : neither
shall any among you covet the wife of his neighbour,
nor his servant, nor his handmaid, nor his ox, nor his
ass, nor anything that belongeth to his neighbour :
because through the guilt of covetousness the govern¬
ment breaketh in upon the possessions of men to take
them, and the wealthy are made poor, and slavery
cometh upon the world.
And all the people saw the thunders, and were turned
back, every one as he heard them coming forth from the
midst of the lights, and the voice of the trumpet as it
will raise the dead, and the mountain smoking; and all
the people saw and drew back, and stood twelve miles
off. And they said to Mosheh, Speak thou with us,
and we can hear ; but let it not be spoken with us any
z 5
514
TARGUM OF PALESTINE
CHAP.
more from before the Lord, lest we die. [Jerusalem.
And all the people saw the thunders and the lights, and
the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking ;
and the people saw and trembled, and stood afar off.]
And Mosheh said to the people, Fear not ; for the
glory of the Lord is revealed to try you, whether His
fear is before your faces, that ye may not sin. And the
people stood twelve miles off ; but Mosheh drew near to
the height of the darkness where was the glory of the
Lord. And the Lord said to Mosheh, Speak thus to
the sons of Israel : Yoh have seen that from the heavens
I have spoken with you ; sons of Israel, My people, you
shall not make, that you may worship, the likeness of
the sun, or the moon, or the stars, or the planets, or
the angels who minister before Me ; idols of silver, nor
idols of gold, ye shall not make to you. An altar of earthye
shall make to My Name, and sacrifice upon it thy burnt
offerings and thy sanctified oblations from thy sheep and
from thy oxen. And in every place where My Shekinah
shall dwell, and thou worship before Me, there will I send
My blessing upon thee, and will bless thee. But if thou
wilt make an altar of stones unto My Name, thou shalt
not build them sculptured ; for if thou lift up iron,
from which the sword is made, upon the stone, thou wilt
profane it. And you, the priests, who stand to minister
before Me, shall not ascend to My altar by steps, but
by (sloping) bridges ; that thy shame may not be seen
thereupon. [Jerusalem. An altar grounded in the
earth shalt thou make unto My name, and shalt offer
upon it your burnt offerings and sacred oblations, your
sheep and your oxen. In every place in which ye shall
memorialize My holy Name, My Word shall be revealed
to you, and bless you. But if you make an altar of
stones unto My Name, you shall not build it with
sculptured ones, because the sword is made of iron. If
ON EXODUS.
515
XXI.]
thou workest with iron upon it, thou wilt profane it.
You also, the priests, the sons of Aharon, who stand
and minister beside Mine altar, shall not ascend by steps
unto Mine altar, lest your shame be disclosed upon it.]
SECTION XVIII.
MISHPATIM.
XXI. And these are the orders of judgments which
thou shalt order before them. If thou shalt have
bought a son of Israel, on account of his theft, six
years he shall serve, and at the incoming of the seventh
he shall go out free without price. If he came in alone,
he shall go out alone : but if (he be) the husband of a
wife, a daughter of Israel, his wife shall go out with
him. If his master give him a wife, an handmaid, and
she bear him sons or daughters, the wife and her
children shall belong to his master, and he may go out
alone. But if the servant shall affirm and say, I love
my master, my wife, and my children, (and) I will not
go out free, then his master shall bring him before the
judges, and shall receive from them the power, and
bring him to the door that hath posts; and his
master shall pierce his right ear with an awl ; and he
shall be a servant to serve him until the jubela. And
if a man of Israel sell his daughter, a little handmaid,
she shall not go forth according to the going forth of
the servants of the Kenaanaee, who are set at liberty
on account of the tooth or the eye ; but in the years of
remission, and with tokens, and at the jubela, and on
the death of her master, and by redemption with money.
516 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
If she hath not found favour before her master who
bought her, then her father may redeem her ; but to a
foreigner he shall not have power to sell her ; for as a
vessel of her Lord he hath power over her. And if he
had intended her for the side of his son, he shall do by
her after the manner of the daughters of Israel. If he
take another daughter of Israel to him beside her, her
food, her adorning, and her conjugal rights, he shall not
withhold from her. [Jerusalem. And if he take
another wife beside her, of her food, her adorning, and
her going in and coming out with him, he shall not
deprive her.] And if these three things he doth not
for her, to covenant her to himself, or to his son, or to
release her into the hand of her father, she shall go free
without payment, and a writing of release he shall give
her.
Whosoever smiteth a son or a daughter of Israel, so
as to cause death, shall be put to death with the sword.
But he who did not attack him, but mischance from
before the Lord befell him at his hand, I will appoint
thee a place wrhere he may flee. But if a man come
maliciously upon his neighbour to kill him with craft,
— though the priests are ministering at My altar, thence
thou shalt take him, and slay him with the sword.
[Jerusalem. But if a man deviseth against his neigh¬
bour to kill him by guile, — though the high priest were
standing to minister before Me, from thence thou shalt
bring him, and put him to death.] And he who
woundeth his father or his mother shall die by
strangling.8 And he who stealeth a soul of the children
of Israel, and selleth him, or if he be found in his
possession, shall die by strangling. And he who
curseth his father or his mother by the Great Name,*
8 Lit., “ by suffocation with the towel.”
9 Or, “by the Name of Manifestation j” the Shern Hamepliorash.
ON EXODUS.
517
XXI.]
dying he shall die by being stoned with stones. And
when men strive together, and one smite his neighbour
with a stone, or with his fist, so that he die not, but
fall ill, if he rise again from his illness, and walk in the
street upon his staff, he who smote him shall be acquitted
from the penalty of death ; only for his cessation from
labour, his affliction, his injury, his disgrace, and the
hire of the physician, he shall make good until he be
cured. And when a man hath smitten his Kenaanite
man-servant or maid-servant with a staff, and he die the
same day under his hand, he shall be judged with the
judgment of death by the sword. But if the wounded
person continue one or two days from time to time, he
shall not be (so) judged ; because with money he had
bought him. If men when striving strike a woman
with child, and cause her to miscarry, but not to lose
her life, the fine on account of the infant which the
husband of the woman shall lay upon him, he shall pay
according to the sentence of the judges. But if death
befall her, then thou shalt judge the life of the killer
for the life of the woman. The value of an eye for an
eye, the value of a tooth for a tooth, the value of a hand
for a hand, the value of a foot for a foot, an equivalent
of the pain of burning for burning, and of wounding
for wounding, and of blow for blow. And when a man
strikes the eye of his Kenaanite servant or handmaid,
and causeth blindness, he shall let him go free, on
account of the eye. And if he strike out the tooth of
his Kenaanite man or maid-servant, he shall make the
servant free on account of the tooth.
And if an ox goreth a man or woman to cause death,
the ox must be stoned, but shall not be killed that his
flesh may be eaten ; and the owner of the ox shall be
exempt from the condemnation of death, and also from
the price of the servant or handmaid. But if the ox
518 TARGTJM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
(had been wont) to gore yesterday and before, and it had
been attested before his owner three times, and be (had
neglected) to restrain him, the ox, when he killeth man
or woman, shall be stoned, and his master also shall die
with a death sent upon him from heaven. Yet if a fine
of money be laid upon him, he may give a ransom for
his life, according to what shall be imposed on him by
the sanhedrin of Israel. Whether the ox hath gored a
son or a daughter of Israel, according to that judgment
it shall be done to him. If an ox goreth a Kenaanite
man-servant or handmaid, the master of the man or
woman-servant shall give thirty sileen1 of silver, and
the ox shall be stoned. And if a man openeth a pit in
the street, and doth not cover it, and an ox or an ass
fall therein ; the master of the pit shall deliver silver to
give to its owner the price of the ox or the ass, and the
dead body shall be his. And when an ox woundeth his
neighbour's ox, and he die, they shall sell the living ox,
and divide the price, and the price of the dead one shall
they also divide. But if it hath been known that the
ox was wont to gore in time past, and his master did
not restrain him, he shall surely deliver ox for ox; but
the carcase and the skin shall be his. , When a man
stealeth an ox or a sheep, and killeth or selleth it, five
oxen shall he make good for one ox, because he hath
hindered him from his ploughing ; and four sheep for
one, because he hath impoverished him by his theft, and
not done service by it.
XXII. If a thief be found in a window of the wall,
and be smitten and die, there shall not be on his account
the guilt of the shedding of innocent blood. If the
thing be as clear as the sun that he was not entering to
destroy life, and one hath killed him, the guilt of the
shedding of innocent blood is upon him ; and if spared
1 Shekels.
ON EXODUS.
519
XXII.]
from his hand, restoring he shall restore. If he have
not wherewith to restore, the beth din shall sell him for
his theft until the year of release. If before witnesses
the thing stolen was found in his possession, from an
ox or an ass, unto a sheep alive, he shall restore two for
one. If a man break in upon a field or a vineyard, and
send in his beast to feed in another man's field, the
best of his field and the best of his vineyard he shall
restore. If fire break out, and catch thorns, and con¬
sume the sheaves, or whatever is standing, or the field,
whoever kindled the fire shall surely restore.
When a man confideth to his neighbour silver, or
vessels to keep, without recompense for the care, and
they be stolen from the man's house, if the thief be
found, he shall restore two for one. If the thief be not
found, the master of the house shall be brought before
the judges, and shall swear that he hath not put forth
his own hand upon the property of his neighbour.
And about whatever is injured covertly, whether ox, or
ass, or sheep, or raiment, of whatever is (so) lost, he
shall make oath when he saith that so it is; and ,when
the thing stolen shall be afterward found in the hand of
the thief, the cause of both shall be brought before the
judges, the cause of the householder and the cause of
the thief ; and wrhom the judges shall condemn, the
thief shall restore twofold to his neighbour. If a man
deliver to his neighbour an ox, or a sheep, or any
animal to keep, (if) he is to keep it without recompense,
and it die, or be torn by wild beast, or be carried off,
and no witness seeing who can testify it ; an oath of
the Lord shall be between them both, that he hath not
put forth his hand upon the property of his neighbour ;
and the owner of the thing shall accept his oath, and he
shall not (be required to) make it good. But if it be
stolen from him who was to receive recompense for the
520 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
care, lie shall make it good to its owner. If it hath
been torn by a wild beast, let him bring witnesses, or
bring him to the carcase : because for that which is (so)
torn he shall not make restitution. [Jerusalem. 12.
If it hath been really killed, he shall bring of its
members, as a testimony, and for that which is killed
he shall not make restitution.] And if a man borrow
anything of his neighbour, and the vessel be broken, or
the animal die, and the owner be not with it, he shall
certainly make it good. If the owner be with it, he
shall not make it good : if it had been lent for profit,
its loss came on account of its hire.
If a man seduce a virgin unbetrothed, and have cri¬
minal conduct with her, endowing, he shall endow her
to be his wife. [Jerusalem. 15. If a man seduce a
virgin, unbetrothed, and have criminal conduct with
her, endowing, he shall endow her to be a wife.] If
this doth not appear to him (to be desirable), or if her
father be not willing to give her to him, fifty sileen of
silver shall be laid upon him, according to the endow¬
ment of a virgin. Sons of My people Israel, whoso¬
ever practiseth witchcraft you shall not suffer to live.
Whosoever lieth with a beast shall be stoned to death.
Whosoever sacrificeth to the idols of the Gentiles shall
be slain with the sword, and his goods be destroyed ;
for ye shall worship only the Name of the Lord. And
the stranger you shall not vex with words, nor
distress him by taking his goods : Remember, sons
of Israel, My people, that you were strangers in
the land of Mizraim. You shall not impoverish
the widow or the orphan. If thou impoverish her,
beware ; for if they rise up and cry against you in
prayer before Me, I will hear the voice of their
prayer, and will avenge them, and My anger will
be kindled, and I will slay you with the sword, and
XXIII.] ON EXODUS. 521
your wives shall be widows, and your children be
orphans.
If thou lend money to (one of) My people, to (one
of) the humble of My people, thou shalt not be to him
as an usurer, neither lay it upon him that there shall be
witnesses against him, or that he give pledges, or
equivalents, or usury. [Jerusalem. 24. If thou lend
money to My people, to the poor of your people, you
shall not be to him an oppressive creditor, or lay upon
him either equivalents or usury.] If thou take (at all)
for a pledge the garment of thy neighbour, thou shalt
restore it to him before sunset ; for it may be his taleth
which alone covereth him; (or) it is his only garment
in which he rests, which falleth upon his skin ; and if
thou take the coverlet of the bed whereon he lies, and
he be heard before Me, I will hearken to his prayer;
for I am Eloah the Merciful.
Sons of Israel My people, ye shall not revile your
judges, nor curse the rabbans who are appointed rulers
among thy people. The firsts 2 of thy fruits, and the
firsts of thy wine-press, thou shalt not delay to bring
up in their time to the place of My habitation. The
firstlings of thy males thou shalt separate before Me.
So shalt thou do with the firstlings of thy oxen and
sheep ; seven days it shall be suckled by its mother,
and on the eighth day thou shalt separate it before Me.
And holy men, tasting unconsecrated things innocently,
shall you be before Me ; but flesh torn by wild beasts
alive you may not eat, but throw it to the dog as his
portion.
XXIII. Sons of Israel My people, take not up lying
words from a man who accuseth his neighbour before
thee, nor put thine hand with the wicked to become a
false witness. Sons of Israel My people, you shall not
2 Bekurey.
522 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
go after the many to do evil, but to do good ; and no
one among you shall restrain himself from affirming
justly concerning his neighbour in the judgment, by
saying, Behold, the judgment sides with the many.
[Jerusalem. Sons of Israel My people, you shall not
go after the multitude to do evil, but to do good ; and
no one of you shall restrain himself from setting forth
the just cause of his neighbour in the judgment, nor
say in your heart, The judgment sides with the many.]
And to the poor man who is guilty in his cause, thou
shalt not be partial in having compassion upon him ;
for there must not be respect of persons in judgment.
If thou meet the ox of thine enemy whom thou dis-
likest on account of the wickedness which thou only
knowest is in him, or an ass that wandereth from the
way, thou shalt surely bring it to him. If thou seest
the ass of thy enemy whom thou dislikest on account of
the wickedness which thou only knowest to be in him,
lying under his burden, and thou wouldst refrain thy¬
self from going near him, thou shalt relinquish at once
the dislike of thy heart against (thy enemy), and release
and take care of the ass (or, charge thyself with him).
Sons of Israel My people, ye shall not warp the
judgment of the poor in his cause. From a false matter
keep distant. And when one hath gone forth from thy
house of justice acquitted, and they (afterwards) find
out his guilt; or one hath been brought out con¬
demned, and they (afterward) find out his innocence, —
thou shalt not put him to death ; for I will not hold (the
former) innocent, nor the latter guilty. And thou
mayest not receive a bribe ; for a bribe blindeth their
eyes who have taken it, and casteth down the wise from
their seats, and perverteth the right words which are
written in the law, and confoundeth the words that are
in the mouth of the innocent in the hour of judgment.
XXIII.] ON EXODUS. 523
Thou shalt not oppress the stranger ; for ye know the
sigh of a stranger's soul; because ye were sojourners
in the land of Mizraim.
Six years thou shalt sow thy land, and gather the
produce; but the seventh year thou shalt exempt it
from labour, and give up the fruit of it to be eaten by
the poor of My people ; and what they leave shall be
eaten by the beasts of the field. And in like manner
shalt thou do with thy vine and olive grounds. Six
days do thy work, and on the seventh day repose, that
thy ox and thy ass may rest, and that the uncircumcised
son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may rest. And
of all the precepts that I have spoken to you, be care¬
ful ; and the names of the idols of the Gentiles remember
not, nor let them be heard upon your lips.
Three times in the year thou shalt keep festival
before Me. The feast of unleavened cakes thou shalt
keep. Seven days thou art to eat unleavened bread, as
I have instructed thee, in the time of the month of
Abiba, because in it thou earnest forth from Mizraim ;
and you shall not appear before Me empty. And the
feast of the harvest first-fruits of the work thou didst
sow in the field ; and the feast of gathering, at the
end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy work
from the field. Three times in the year shall all thy
males appear before the Lord the Ruler of the world.
Sons of Israel My people, while there is leaven in
your houses you may not immolate the bloody sacrifice
of My Pascha; nor shall the fat of the sacrifice of My
Pascha remain without the altar until morning, nor of
the flesh that you eat in the evening. The first of the
choice fruits of thy ground thou shalt bring to the
sanctuary of the Lord thy God. My people of the
house of Israel, you are not permitted to dress or to
eat of flesh and milk mingled together, lest I be greatly
524
TARGTJM OF PALESTINE
[chap.
displeased ; and I prepare you the wheat and the straw
together for your food.
Behold, I will send an Angel before thee, to keep
thee in the way, and to bring thee in to the place of
My habitation which I have prepared. Be circumspect
before Him, and obey His word, and be not rebellious
against His words ; for He will not forgive your sins,
because His word is in My Name. For if thou wilt
indeed hearken to His word, and do all that I speak by
Him, I will be the enemy of thy enemy, and will trouble
them who trouble thee. For My Angel shall go before
thee, and bring thee to the Amoraee, and PherizaeeJ
and Kenaanaee, Hivaee, and Jebusaee; and I will destroy'
them. Thou shalt not worship their idols, nor serve
them, nor do after their evil works ; but thou shalt
utterly demolish the house of their worship, and break
the statues of their images. And you shall do service
before the Lord your God, and He will bless the pro¬
vision of thy food and thy drinks, and remove the bitter
plague from among thee. None shall be abortive or
barren in thy land ; the number of the days of thy life
I will fulfil from day to day. My terror will I send
before thee, and will perturb all the peoples to whom
thou comest, that thou mayest wage battle against them ;
and I will make all thy enemies turn back before thee.
And I will send the hornet before thee to drive out the
Hivaee, and Kenaanaee, and Hitaee, from before thee.
I will not expel them before thee in one year, lest the land
become a wilderness, and the beasts of the field multiply
upon thee, when they come to eat their carcasses, and
injure thee. By little and little I will drive them out
before thee, until thou art increased, and inherit the
land. And I will set thy boundary from the sea of
Suph, to the sea of the Philistaee, and from the desert
unto the Pherat ; for I will deliver into your hand all
ON EXODUS.
525
:xiy.]
lie inhabitants of the land, and thou shalt drive them
>ut from before thee. Thou shalt make no covenant
vith them, nor with their idols. Thou shalt not let
hem dwell in thy land, lest they cause thee to err, and
o sin before Me, when thou dost worship their idols ;
or they will be a stumbling-block to thee.
XXIV. And Michael, the Prince of Wisdom, said
o Mosheh on the seventh day of the month, Come up
>efore the Lord, thou and Aharon, Nadab and Abihu,
md seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship at a
listance. And Mosheh alone shall approach before the
!.ord; but they shall not draw nigh, nor may the
leople come up with him.
And Mosheh came and set before the people all the
vords of the Lord, and all the judgments. And all the
)eople answered with one voice, and said, All that the
.jord hath spoken we will do. And Mosheh wrote the
vords of the Lord, and arose in the morning and
milded an altar at the lower part of the mountain ;
nd twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. And
Le sent the firstborn of the sons of Israel, — for until
hat hour had the firstborn had the (office of perform-
ag) worship, the tabernacle of ordinance not (as yet)
ieing made, nor the priesthood given unto Aharon ;
nd they offered burnt offerings and consecrated obla-
ions of oxen before the Lord. And Mosheh took half
f the blood of the offering, and put it in basins, and
alf of the blood of the offering he sprinkled upon the
ltar. And he took the Book of the Covenant of the
jaw, and read before the people ; and they said, All the
rords which the Lord hath spoken we will perform and
bey. And Mosheh took half of the blood which was in
le basins, and sprinkled upon the altar, to expiate the
eople, and said, Behold, this is the blood of the Covenant
hich the Lord hath made with you upon all these words.
526 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.'
And Mosheh and Aharon, Nadab and Abihu, and
seventy of the elders of Israel, went up. And Nadab
and Abihu lifted up their eyes, and saw the glory of the
God of Israel; and under the footstool of His feet
which was placed beneath His throne, was like the work
of sapphire stone — a memorial of the servitude with
which the Mizraee had made the children of Israel to
serve in clay and bricks, (what time) there were women
treading clay with their husbands ; the delicate young
woman with child was also there, and made abortive by
being beaten down with the clay. And thereof did
Gabriel, descending, make brick, and, going up to the
heavens on high, set it, a footstool under the cathedra
of the Lord of the world, whose splendour was as the
work of a precious stone, and as the power of the
beauty of the heavens when they are clear from clouds.
[Jerusalem. The footstool of His feet as the work of
pure sapphire stones, and as the aspect of the heavens
when they are cleared from clouds.]
But upon Nadab and Abihu, the comely young men,
was the stroke not sent in that hour, but it awaited
them on the eighth day for a retribution to destroy
them ; but they saw the glory of the Shekinah of the
Lord, and rejoiced that their oblations were received
with favour, and so did eat and drink.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Ascend before Me at
the mount, and I will there give thee the tables of
stone on which I have set forth the rest of the words of
the Law, and the six hundred and thirteen precepts \
which I have written for their instruction. And
Mosheh arose and Jehoshua his minister ; and Mosheh
went up to the mountain on which was revealed the
glory of the Shekinah of the Lord. And to the sages
he had said, Expect us here, at the time of our return
to you; and, behold, Aharon and Hur are with you; if
ON EXODUS.
527
XXV.]
there be any matter of judgment, bring it to them.
And Mosheh went up into the mount, and the Cloud of
Glory covered the mount. And the glory of the Lord's
Shekinab abode upon the mountain of Sinai, and the
Cloud of Glory covered it six days. And on the
seventh day He called to Mosheh from the midst of the
Cloud. And the appearance of the splendour of the
glory of the Lord was as burning fire with flashes of
devouring fire ; and the sons of Israel beheld and were
awe-struck. And Mosheh entered into the midst of the
Cloud, and ascended the mountain ; and Mosheh was
upon the mountain forty days and forty nights, learning
the words of the Law from the mouth of the Holy One,
whose Name be praised.
SECTION^XIX.
TERUMAH.
XXV. And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying,
Speak unto the children of Israel, that they shall set
apart (take) before me a Separation : of every one whose
heart is willing, but not by constraint, ye shall take my
separation. And this is the separation which you shall
take of them : gold, and silver, and brass ; and
hyacinth, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen ; and
goats' skins, and skins of rams dyed red, and purpled
skins, and woods of sittin, and olive oil for the light,
and aromatics for the confection of the pure anointing
oil, and of the fragrant incense ; gems of beryl that are
gems of perfection, for engraving and insertion in the
ephoda and in the breastplate.
528
TARGUM OP PALESTINE [CHAP.
And they shall make a Sanctuary to My Name, that
My Shekinah may dwell among them. According to
all that I show thee, the likeness of the tabernacle and
the likeness of all its vessels, so shalt thou make. And
they shall make an ark of sitta wood ; two cubits and
a half its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a
cubit and a half its height. And thou shalt cover it
with pure gold within and without, and. shalt make
upon it a crown of gold round about. [Jerusalem.
A coronal of gold shall surround it.] And thou shalt
cast for it four rings of gold, and set them upon its four
corners; two rings for one side, and two rings for the
second side. And thou shalt make staves of sitta
wood, and cover them with gold ; and thou shalt intro-]
duce the staves into the rings on the sides of the arkJ
that the ark may be carried upon them. The staves
shall be inlaid in the rings of the ark, and not be
removed from it. And thou shalt put within the ark
the Testament that I will give thee.
And thou shalt make a ( kaphortha ) mercy-seat of
pure gold; two cubits and a half the length, and a
cubit and a half the breadth, and its depth shall be a
handbreadth {pus/ieka). And thou shalt make two
kerubin, ol pure beaten gold shalt thou make them on
the two sides of the mercy-seat. Thou shalt make one
keruba on this side, and one keruba on that side of the
mercy-seat ; you shall make the kerubaia on its two
sides. And the kerubaia sliall stretch forth their wings
above, their heads over against each other, their wings
overshadowing the mercy-seat, and their faces over
against each other ; towards the mercy-seat shall be the
faces of the kerubaia. And thou shalt put the mercy-
seat above upon the ark, and within the ark thou shalt
lay the Tables of the Testament that I will give thee.
And I will appoint My Word with thee there, and will
ON EXODUS.
529
XXV. J
speak with thee from above the mercy-seat, between the
two kerubaia that are over the ark of the testament, con¬
cerning all that T may command thee for the sons of Israel.
And thou shalt make a Table of sitta wood ; two
cubits its length, and a cubit its breadth, and a cubit
and a half its height. And thou ' shalt overlay it with
pure gold, and make for it a rim of gold round about.
And thou shalt make to it a border, a handbreadth
high round about, and make a golden wreath for its
border round about. [Jerusalem. A border of a span
surrounding.] And thou shalt make for it four golden
rings, and set the rings in its four corners which
are at its four feet. Over against the border shall the
rings be, for the place of the staves, to carry the table.
And thou shalt make its dishes and its spoons, its
tankards and its measures, which are for the service of
libation; of pure gold shalt thou make them. And
upon the table thou shalt set in order the interior bread
before Me continually.
And thou shalt make a Candelabrum ; of pure beaten
gold shalt thou make the candelabrum; its base and
shaft, its cups and apples and lilies, shall be of the
same. Six branches shall spread out from its sides;
three branches of the candelabrum from one side, and
three branches of the candelabrum on the second side.
Three calyxes adorned with their figurations on one
branch, with apple and lily^ and three calyxes adorned
with their figurations on the other branch, with apple
and lily : so for the six branches that spread out from
the candelabrum. And upon the candelabrum there
shall be four calyxes adorned with their figurations,
their apples and lilies. And there shall be an apple
under two branches of it, and an apple under two
branches of it, and an apple under two branches of it,
for the six branches which extend from the cande-
a a
530 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
labrum. Their apples and their branches shall be of
the same ; all of it one beaten work of pure gold.
And thou shalt make its seven lights, and the priest
who ministers shall kindle the lights, that they may
shine over upon its face. And its snuffers and its
shovels of pure gold. Of a talent of pure gold shall
he make it and all these its vessels. And look thou,
and make according to their forms which thou hast
seen in the mount.
XXVI. And the Tabernacle thou shalt make with ten
curtains of fine linen twined, and hyacinth, and purple,
and crimson, with figures of kerubin ; with the work of
the artificer shalt thou make them. The length of one
curtain twenty and eight cubits, and the breadth of one
curtain four cubits ; the measure of one shall be that of
all the curtains. Five curtains shall be coupled one
with another, and five other curtains coupled one with
another. And thou shalt make loops of hyacinth upon
the edge of one curtain at the side in the place of
coupling, and so shalt thou do in the edge of the second
curtain in the place of conjoinment. Fifty loops shalt
thou make in one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou
make in the side of the second curtain in the place of
conjoinment, so that the loops may answer one to the
other. And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and
couple the curtains one with another with the taches,
and the Tabernacle shall be conjoined to be one.
And thou shalt make curtains of goats* hair to extend
over the tabernacle : twelve curtains thou shalt make
them. The length of one curtain thirty cubits, and the
breadth of one curtain four cubits ; and the measure of
one (shall be that of each) of the eleven (other) curtains.
And thou shalt conjoin five curtains together, corre¬
sponding with the five books of the Law ; and six cur¬
tains together, corresponding with the six orders of the
XXVI.] ON EXODUS. 581
Mishna ; and shalt fold the sixth curtain over the front
of the tabernacle. And thou shalt make fifty loops upon
the edge of one curtain at the side of the place of
coupling; and fifty loops in the edge of the second
curtain at the place of coupling. And thou shalt make
taches of brass, fifty, and put the taches into the loops,
and conjoin the tabernacle, that it may be one.
And the surplus which remaineth of the curtains of
the Tabernacle, the half curtain which remaineth, thou
shalt spread over the hinder part of the Tabernacle.
[Jerusalem. And the surplus.] And the cubit here
and the cubit there, of that which remaineth in the
curtains of the tabernacle, shall hang over the sides of
the tabernacle here and there, to cover it. And thou
shalt make a covering for the tabernacle of rams' skins
dyed red, and a covering of purple skins above. And
thou shalt make the boards of the tabernacle of sittin
woods ; they shall stand up, after the manner of their
plantation. [Jerusalem. Slabs.] Ten cubits the length
of the board, and a cubit and a half the breadth of one
board. Two tenons to one board, each in its side
answering to the other: so shalt thou do for all the
boards of the tabernacle. And thou shalt make the
boards of the tabernacle, twenty boards towards the wind
on the south side. And thou shalt make forty bases of
silver [Jerusalem. Bases of silver] beneath the twenty
boards; two bases beneath one board with its two
;enons, and two bases under the other board with its
;wo tenons. And for the second side of the tabernacle
owards the north wind twenty boards, and their forty
jases of silver; two bases under one, and two bases
mder the other board. And for the side of the tabernacle
vestward thou shalt make six boards. And two boards
halt thou make at the corners of the tabernacle at their
nds. And they shall be conjoined beneath, and in one
2 a 2
532 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [ciIAP.
manner shall be conjoined at their heads, with one ring; so
shall it be with them both; for the two corners shall they
be. And there shall be eight boards and their silver
bases ; sixteen bases ; two bases under one board, and two
bases under another board. And thou shalt make bars
of sittin woods, five for the boards of one side of the
tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the second
side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the side of the
tabernacle at their extremity towards the west. [Jeru¬
salem. And five bars for the boards of the side of the
tabernacle stretching to the west.] And the middle bar
in the midst of the boards passing from end to end
shall be from the tree which Abraham planted in Beara
of Sheba: for when Israel had crossed the sea, the
angels cut down the tree and cast it into the sea, and it
floated on the face of the waters. And an angel pro¬
claimed, and said, This is the tree which Abraham planted
in Beara of Sheba, and prayed there in the name of the
Word of the Lord. And the sons of Israel shall take
and make thereof the middle bar, seventy cubits in
length, and with it shall wondrous things be done : for
when they have reared up the tabernacle, it shall go
round it like a serpent among the boards of the taber¬
nacle; and when they take it down, it shall become
straight as a rod. And the boards thou shalt overlay
with gold, and make of gold their rings for the place of
the bars, and shalt overlay the bars with gold. And
thou shalt rear the tabernacle according to the manner
showed thee in the mountain.
And thou shalt make a Veil of hyacinth, and purple,
and crimson, and fine linen entwined ; the work of the
artificer shalt . thou make it, with figures of kerubin.
And thou shalt range it upon four pillars of sitta, covered
with gold, their hooks of gold, upon four bases of silver.
[Jerusalem. And their hooks of gold.] And thou
ON EXODUS.
533
XXVII.]
shalt place the veil under the taches, and bring in thither
within the veil the ark of the testament : and thou shalt
spread the veil for you between the Holy and the Holy
of Holies. And thou shalt place the mercy seat with
the kerubaia produced of beaten work for it in the Holy
of Holies.
And thou shalt set the Table outside of the veil, and
the Candelabrum over against the table on the southern
side of the tabernacle ; but the table thou shalt arrange
on the northern side. And thou shalt make a curtain for
the door of the tabernacle, of hyacinth, purple, and crim¬
son, and fine linen twined, the work of the embroiderer.
And thou shalt make for the curtain five pillars of sitta,
and cover them with gold, and their nails shall be of
gold ; and thou shalt cast for them five bases of brass.
XXYII. And thou shalt make the Altar of woods
of sitta; five cubits the length, and five cubits the
breadth : square shall be the altar, and its height three
cubits. And thou shalt make its horns upon its four
corners : the horns shall be of it, they shall rise upward,
and thou shalt cover it with brass. And thou shalt
make its pots to carry away its ashes, and its shovels,
and its basins, and its thuribles; all its vessels thou
shalt make of brass. [Jerusalem. And thou shalt
make its pots to carry its ashes, and its scoops and
basins, and its fleshhooks, and its thuribles; all
its vessels thou shalt make of brass.] And thou
shalt make for it a grate of network of brass, and upon
the network four brass rings upon its four corners.
[Jerusalem. A grate.] And thou shalt place it under
the surroundings of the altar, beneath, that the network
may be to the middle of the altar, that, if any fragment
or fiery coal fall from the altar, it may fall upon the grate,
and not touch the ground, and that the priests may •
take it from the grate, and replace it upon the altar.
534 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
And thou shalt make staves of sittin woods, and overlay
them with brass ; and thou shalt place the staves within
the rings, and the staves shall be on the two sides of the
altar in carrying the altar, hollow : (with) boards filled
with dust shalt thou make it; according to what I
showed thee in the mountain, so shall they make.
And thou shalt make the Court of the tabernacle.
For the southern side shall be hangings of fine linen
twined; a hundred cubits the length for one side.
[Jerusalem. Hangings.] And its pillars twenty, and
their foundations twenty, of brass ; the hooks of the
pillars, and their rods, of silver. And so for the northern
side, for length, the hangings a hundred (cubits) long,
and their pillars twenty, and their foundations twenty, of
brass ; the hooks of the pillars, and their rods, of silver.
And for the breadth of the court on the western side,
the hangings shall be fifty cubits ; their columns ten,
and their foundations ten. And for the breadth of the
eastern side eastward fifty cubits ; and fifteen cubits the
hangings of the side, their pillars three and their
foundations three. And for the door of the court shall
be a veil of ten cubits of hyacinth, and purple, and
crimson, and fine linen twined, of embroidered work ; their
pillars four, and their foundations four. All the pillars
of the court round about shall be united with silver
rods ; their hooks of silver, and their foundations of
brass. The length of the court one hundred cubits, and
the breadth fifty on the west and fifty on the east, and
the height five cubits, of fine linen twined, and their
foundations of brass. All the vessels of the tabernacle
in all its service, and all the pins of the court around, of
brass.
XXVIII.]
ON EXODUS.
535
SECTION XX.
TETSAWEH.
And thou shalt instruct the sons of Israel to bring
the pure olive oil, beaten, for illumination, that the
lamps may burn continually. In the tabernacle of the
covenant, without the veil that is before the testimony,
Aharon and his sons shall set it in order from evening
until morning before the Lord, an everlasting statute to
your generations of the house of Israel.
XXVIII. And thou, bring near to thee Aharon thy
brother, and his sons with him, from among the sons of
Israel, to minister before Me : Aharon, Nadab, and
Abihu, Elazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aharon. And
thou shalt make garments of holiness for Aharon thy
brother, for glory and for praise. And thou shalt
speak with all who are wise of heart, and whom I have
filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they make the
vestments of Aharon to consecrate him to minister
before Me. And these are the vestments they shall
make : the breastplate and ephoda, and the robe, and
the embroidered tunics, the mitres and girdles ; and
they shall make the holy garments for Aharon thy
brother, and for his sons, to minister before Me.
And they shall take from their treasures gold, and
hyacinth, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen. And
they shall make the ephod of hyacinth, and purple, and
crimson, and fine linen, twined, the work of the arti¬
ficer. Two shoulder (pieces) shall it have, conjoined to
its two sides, and (so) it shall be united. And the
ornamented girdle which is to be upon it shall be of
the same work ; of gold, hyacinth, purple, and crimson,
and fine twined linen, shall it be. And thou shalt take
536 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [cHAP.
two gems of onyx, and engrave upon them the names of
the sons of Israel. Six of their names shall be engraven
upon one gem, and the six remaining names upon the
second gem ; they shall be set in the order of their
nativity. The engraved gems shall be the work of the
artificer, engraven, and the engraving be distinct as the
engraving of a ring; thou slialt engrave the two gems
according to the names of the sons of Israel in their
work round about ; inset in gold shalt thou make them.
And thou shalt fix the two gems upon the shoulders of
the epliod, to be set for a memorial of righteousness for
the sons of Israel ; and Aharon shall bear the names
of the sons of Israel upon his two shoulders for a memo¬
rial. And thou shalt make the sockets of gold. And
two chains of pure gold, measured shalt thou make
them, of twisted work, and insert the twisted chains in
the sockets. [Jerusalem. Chains.]
And thou shalt make the Breastplate of Judgment,
by which are made known the judgments that are hidden
from the judges ; and the order of the victories of their
battles, and amends that are made for the judges ; the
work of the artificer ; as the work of the ephod, thou shalt
make it ; of gold, hyacinth, and purple, and crimson, and
fine linen twined, thou shalt make it. Square shall it
be, doubled ; a span its length, and a span its breadth.
[Jerusalem. A handsbreadth.] And thou shalt fill
it with a fulness of precious stones : four rows of pre¬
cious gems, answering to the four regions of the wrorld.
The first row, carnelian, topaz, carbuncle ; and on them
shall be engraven and expressed the names of the tribes
Reuben, Shemeon, and Levi. [Jerusalem. And thou
shalt fill it with a filling of stones, four rows of precious
stone; the first row, carnelian, and topaz, and car¬
buncle ; written with expression upon it (shall be) the
name of the three tribes, Reuben, Shemeon, Levi.]
ON EXODUS.
537
XXVIII.]
And the name of the second row, smaragd, and sap¬
phire, and chalcedony ; and upon them shall be
engraven and expressed the names of the three tribes,
Jehudah, Dan, and JNaphtali. And the name of the
third row, ligure, and agate, and amethyst ; and upon
them shall be written and expressed the names of three
tribes, Gad, and Asher, and Issakar. And the name of
the fourth row, chrysolite, onyx, and jasper ; and upon
them shall be written and expressed the names of three
tribes, Zebulon, Joseph, and Benjamin. Set in gold
shall they be, in their completeness. [Jerusalem.
And the second row, carbuncle, and sapphire, and
amethyst ; in writing expressed upon them, the name of
the three tribes, Jehudah, Issakar, and Zebulon. And
the third row, ligure, and beryl, and smaragd ; written
expressly upon them (shall be) the name of the three
tribes, Dan, Naphtali, and Gad. And the fourth row,
chrysolite, bdellium, and margelite.* Written expressly
upon them shall be the name of the three tribes, Asher,
3 The three Chaldee Targums vary in the translation of the names of
these gems. For the convenience of the student I will set them down
in one view.
Hebrew Text. 1. Odem, pitedah, hareketh. 2. Nophek, sapphir,
yahalon. 3. Leshem, sheho, achlamah. 4. Tarshish, shoham,
yashepheh.
Onkelos. 1. Samkan, jarkan, or jarktha, barkan. 2. Izmargadin,
schabziz, sibhalom. 3. Kankire, tarkaja, ain-igla. 4. Kerum-yama,
burella, pantire.
Jonathan. 1. Simuktha, yarketha, barketha. 2. Izmorad, saphi-
rinon, kadekodin. 3. Kankerinun, arekin, ain-egel. 4. Kerum-yama-
rabba, birlevath-chala, margenith-apantirin.
Jerusalem. 1. Samketha, yarketha, barketha. 2. Kadkedana,
simphuryana, ein-igla. 3. Zozin, berulin, zemargedin. 4. Kerum
yama, bedolcha, margalitha. We cannot render some of these by the
names of stones with which we are familiar with absolute certainty.
Much curious matter on this chapter may be found in, “Die TJrim und
Thummim, die dltesten Gemmen. Von J. J. Belle rmann ” Berlin
1824.
2 A 5
538 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
Joseph, and Benjamin : socketed in gold shall they be
in their completeness.] And the jewels shall be taken
according to the names of the sons of Israel, twelve are
they according to their names, engraven and set forth
as the engraving of a ring; the gem of each man
according to his name ; (so) shall they be for the twelve
tribes.
And thou shalt make upon the breastplate measured
chains of twisted work of pure gold, and shalt make upon
the breastplate two rings of pure gold, and put the two
rings upon the two sides of the breastplate. And thou
shalt put the two golden chains upon the two rings in the
sides of the breastplate, and the two chains which are
upon the two sides thou shalt put upon the two sockets,
and set on the shoulders of the ephod against its front.
And thou shalt make two golden rings, and fix them
upon the two sides of the breastplate, in the border of
it which is on the edge of the ephod inwardly. And
thou shalt make (likewise) two golden chains, and fix
them upon the two shoulders of the ephod beneath,
towards its front, towards the place of its conjoinment
above the girdle of the ephod ; and they shall unite the
breastplate with its rings to the rings of the ephod, with
twined ribbon, of hyacinth, to be joined upon the girdle
of the ephod, that the breastplate may not be removed
from the ephod. And Aharon shall bear the names of
the sons of Israel upon his heart what time he entereth
into the sanctuary for a good memorial before the Lord
continually.
And thou shalt put upon the breastplate of judgment
the Uraia, which illuminate their words, and manifest
the hidden things of the house of Israel, and the
Tumaia, which fulfil (or perfect) their work to the high
priest, who seeketh instruction by them before the
Lord ; because in them is engraven and expressed the
XXVIII.] ON EXODUS. 539
Great and Holy Name by which were created the three
hundred and ten worlds, and which was engraven and
expressed in the foundation stone wherewith the Lord
of the world sealed up the mouth of the great deep at
the beginning. Whosoever remembereth that holy
name in the hour of necessity shall be delivered. And
they shall be upon Aharon’s heart in the time that he
entereth before the Lord : and Aharon shall bear the
judgment of the sons of Israel before the Lord con¬
tinually.
And thou shalt make the mantle-robe ( mintar meila)
of the ephod, of twined thread of hyacinth; and an
orifice shall be in the middle of its upper part ; a border
shall be upon its opening round about its orifice, the
work of the sewer ; as the orifice of a coat of mail it
shall be, that it may not be rent. [Jerusalem. And
an orifice shall be in the middle of its head ; a border
shall surround the orifice, the work of the sewer; like
the opening of a coat of mail shall it be, that it be not
torn.] And thou shalt make upon the hem of it pome¬
granates of hyacinth, and purple, and crimson, upon its
hem, round about, and bells of gold among them round
about. A golden bell, and a pomegranate of hyacinth
and crimson ; a golden bell, and a pomegranate of hya¬
cinth and crimson upon the border of the robe round
about ; their number, seventy and one. And it shall
be a vestment upon Aharon to minister, and its voice
shall be heard at the time that he hath entered the holy
place before the Lord, and at the time that he cometh
out, that he die not by the flaming fire.
And thou shalt make a plate (or crown) of pure gold,
and engrave upon it with distinct engraving, HOLI¬
NESS TO THE LOED. And thou shalt put it on a
twined ribbon of hyacinth, to make amends for boldness
of face ; and it shall be on the mitre above the tephillin
540 TARGUM OP PALESTINE [CHAP.
of the head, in front of the mitre shall it be. And it
shall be in the front of Aharon's forehead, from time to
time as it comes ; and Aharon shall bear the iniquity of
the consecrated things which the sons of Israel may
consecrate ; even of all their sacred gifts in which they
have been insincere. And it shall be upon the front
continually, for their reconciliation before the Lord.
And thou shalt weave the tunic of fine linen to expiate
for the shedding of innocent blood ; and shalt make the
tiara of fine linen to expiate for the pride of their
thoughts ; and the girdle shalt thou make of the work of
the embroiderer. And for the sons of Aharon thou
shalt make tunics, and girdles, and mitres, for glory
and for praise. And with them thou shalt invest
Aharon thy brother, and his sons with him, and anoint
them, that they may offer their oblations ; and sanctify
them to minister before Me. And thou shalt make for
them under-garments of fine linen to cover the flesh of
their shame ; from the girt of the girdle of their loins
unto their thighs they shall be. [Jerusalem. Drawers
of fine linen.] And they shall be upon Aharon and
upon his sons at the time when they enter the taber¬
nacle of testimony, or when they approach the altar to
minister in the sanctuary, that they may not receive the
punishment of flaming fire. This is an 'everlasting
statute for him and for his sons after him.
XXIX. And this is the thing that thou shalt do to
them to sanctify them, that they may serve before Me.
Take one bullock, the young of a bullock, without spot ;
and two rams, unblemished (perfect) ; and unleavened
bread, and unleavened cakes, mingled with olive oil ;
and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with olive oil,
and with flour of wheat shalt thou make them. And
thou shalt put them upon one basket, and oiler them iu
the basket, and the bullock and the two rams they shall
ON EXODUS.
541
XXIX.]
bring in a vehicle. And Aharon and his two sons thou
shalt bring near to the door of the tabernacle of testi¬
mony, and wash them, in four measures of living water.
And thou shalt take the vestments, and clothe Aharon
with the tunic, and the robe of the epliod, and the
ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him (or ordain
| him) with the girdle of the ephod. And thou shalt set
the mitre on his head, and put the diadem upon which
I is engraven the Kame of Holiness upon the mitre.
And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and pour it upon
his head and anoint him. And thou shalt bring his
sons near, and dress them in the tunics, and indue
(ordain) them with the girdles, Aharon and his sons,
and wrap on them the mitres ; and the priesthood shall
be theirs by an everlasting statute.
And thou shalt offer the oblation of Aharon, and the
oblation of his sons. And thou shalt bring the bullock
before the tabernacle of ordinance, and Aharon and his
sons shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock,
and thou shalt kill the bullock before the door of the
tabernacle of ordinance ; and take of the blood of the
bullock, and put (it) on the horns of the altar with thy
finger, and all the (remaining) blood thou shalt pour
out at the foot of the altar. Aud thou shalt take all
the fat that covereth the inwards, and what remaineth
upon the caul of the liver, and the two kidneys, and the
fat which is upon them, and set them in order upon the
altar. And the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and
his dung, thou shalt burn with fire without the camp ;
it is a sin offering. And the one ram thou shalt take,
and Aharon and his sons shall lay their hands on the
head of the ram. And thou shalt kill the ram, and
take his blood and sprinkle on the altar round about.
And the ram shalt thou divide according to his mem¬
bers (dividings), and wash his inwards and his legs, and
542 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
set them in order upon his members, and upon his
head. [Jerusalem. And the ram thou shalt divide
according to his divisions, and shalt cleanse his inwards
and his legs, and lay them upon his divided parts, and
upon his head.] And thou shalt offer the whole ram
upon the altar, it is a holocaust before the Lord to be
accepted with favour, an oblation it is before the Lord.
And thou shalt take the second ram, and Aharon and
his sons shall lay their hands upon the head of the ram.
And thou shalt kill the ram, and take of his blood, and
put upon the tip 4 of Aharon's right ear, and upon the
tip 4 of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of
their right hands, and upon the toe of their right feet,
and pour the rest of the blood upon the altar round
about.
And thou shalt take of the blood which is upon the
altar, and of the anointing oil, and drop it upon Aharon,
and upon his vestments, and on his sons, and on his
sons' vestments with him. And thou shalt take of the
ram, the fat and the tail, and the fat that covereth
the inwards, and which remaineth upon the caul of the
liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon
them, and the right shoulder, for it is the ram of the
oblation ; and one round of bread, and one cake of
bread mingled with oil, and one wafer from the basket
of unleavened bread which is before the Lord ; and thou
shalt put all upon the hands of Aharon and upon the
hands of his sons, and shalt uplift them for an elevation
before the Lord. And thou shalt take them from their
hands, and set them in order upon the altar upon the
burnt offering, to be received with acceptance before the
Lord : it is an oblation before the Lord. And thou
shalt take the breast of the ram of Aharon's oblation,
and uplift it, an elevation before the Lord, and it shall be
4 Lit., “ cartilage.”
ON EXODUS.
543
XXIX.]
thy portion. [Jerusalem. The breast.] And thou
shalt consecrate the breast of the elevation and the
shoulder of the separation, which have been uplifted and
separated from the ram of the oblation from the hand of
Aharon and from the hand of his sons. And it shall be
for Aharon and for his sons by a perpetual statute for the
sons of Israel ; because it is a separation, and a separa¬
tion it shall be from the sons of Israel from the offer¬
ings of their consecration, their separation before the
Lord. And the holy vestments of Aharon shall be to
his sons after him, to be anointed in them, and in them
to offer their oblations. Seven days shall the priest
wear them, who ariseth after him from his sons, but not
from the Levites, at the time when he entereth into the
tabernacle of ordinance to minister in the sanctuary.
And thou shalt take the ram of the oblation, and boil
its flesh in the holy place; and Aharon and his sons
shall eat the flesh of the ram, and the bread that is in
the basket at the door of the tabernacle of ordinance.
And they shall eat those things by which atonement
was made for them in offering their oblations to sanctify
them to minister before Me : but the profane shall not
eat ; for they are holy. And if any of the flesh of the
oblation and of the bread remain until the morning,
thou shalt burn that which remaineth with fire ; it shall
not be eaten ; for it is sacred. And thus thou shalt do to
Aharon and to his sons according to all that I have pre¬
scribed to thee ; seven days thou shalt offer their obla¬
tion. And a bullock for a sin offering thou shalt offer
daily for atonement, and shalt anoint the altar in offering
the atonement upon it ; thou shalt anoint it, to conse¬
crate it. Seven days make thou atonement upon the
altar to consecrate it ; and it shall be the altar of the
Holy of Holies. Every one of the sons of Aharon who
approacheth to the altar must be holy; to the rest of
544 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
the people it is not lawful to approach, lest they be
burned with the fiery flame which cometh from the holy
place.
And this is the oblation which thou shalt perform
upon the altar ; two lambs of one year, daily, evermore.
The one lamb thou shalt perform in the morning ; and
the second lamb thou shalt perform between the even¬
ings. And the tenth of flour mingled with oil of olives
beaten; (with) the fourth of a hina, and the libation of
a fourth of a hina for the one lamb. And the second
lamb thou shalt perform between the evenings : it shall
be as the mincha of the morning, and as the libation
thou shalt do it, to be received with acceptance, an
oblation before the Lord ; a perpetual holocaust for
your generations at the door of the tabernacle of
ordinance before the Lord ; where I will appoint My
Word to (meet) thee there, to speak with thee there.
And there I will appoint My Word (to meet) with the
sons of Israel, and I will be sanctified in their rulers for
My glory. And I will sanctify the tabernacle of
ordinance and the altar ; and Aharon and his sons will
I sanctify to minister before Me : and My Shekinah
shall dwell in the midst of the sons of Israel, and I will
be their God. And the sons of Israel shall know that I
am their God, who led them out free from the land of
Mizraim to make My Shekinah dwell among them. I
am the Lord their God.
XXX. And thou shalt make an altar on which to
burn incense of perfumes : of sitta wood shalt thou make
it. A cubit its length, and a cubit its breadth ; four¬
square shall it be : and two cubits its height : and
its upright horns shall be of it. And thou shalt overlay
it with pure gold, its top, and its wrall round about,
and its horns ; and make for it a border of gold round
about. And two golden rings make thou for it beneath
ON EXODUS.
545
XXX.]
its border at the two corners, thou shalt make upon its
two sides, to be the place for the staves by which it
may be carried. And thou shalt make the staves of
sitta wood, and cover them with gold. And thou shalt
place it before the veil which is over the ark of the tes¬
timony, before the mercy seat that is upon the testi¬
mony, where I will appoint My Word to be with thee.
And Aharon shall burn sweet incense upon it from
morning to morning : when he ordereth the lamps, he
shall burn it. And when Aharon kindleth the lamps
between the evenings, he shall burn sweet incense per¬
petually before the Lord in your generations. Thou
shalt not offer thereon the sweet incense of strange
peoples, nor offer upon it burnt offerings, or minchas,
nor pour libations. And Aharon shall expiate upon its
horns once in the year with the blood of the sin offering
for an expiation : once in the year shall he make atone¬
ment upon it on the day of atonement in your genera¬
tions : it shall be most holy before the Lord.
SECTION XXI.
KI THISSA.
And the Lord spake unto Mosheh, saying, When
thou takest the sum of the sons of Israel according to
their number, they shall give every man the ransom of
their souls before the Lord when thou numberest them ;
that there may not be among them the calamity of death
when thou dost number them. [Jerusalem. When
thou takest the head of the number of the sums of the
546
TARGUM OF PALESTINE
[chap.
sons of Israel.] This valuation was shown to Mosheh in
the mountain as with a denarius of fire, and thus spake He
to him : So shall every one who passeth to the number-
ment give a half shekel of the coin of the sanctuary :
(a half shekel is twenty manin :) the half shekel is to be
the separation before the Lord. Every one who passeth
to the numbering, from a son of twenty years and
upwards, shall give the separation before the Lord. He
who is rich shall not add to, and he who is poor shall not
diminish from, the half shekel in giving the separation
before the Lord, to atone for your souls. And thou
shalt take the silver of the ransom from the sons of
Israel, and apply it to the work of the tabernacle of
ordinance ; that it may be for the sons of Israel for a
good memorial before the Lord, as a ransom for your
souls.
And the Lord spake to Mosheh, saying, And thou
shalt make a laver of brass, and its foundation of brass,
for purification ; and shalt set it between the tabernacle
of ordinance and the altar, and put water therein. And
they shall take from it for a cleansing ablution. And
Aharon and his sons shall sanctify their hands and their
feet with its water ; at the time of their entering into
the tabernacle of ordinance they shall sanctify with
water, that they die not by the fiery flame : and it shall
be to them an everlasting statute, to him and to his sons
in their generations.
And the Lord spake to Mosheh, saying, And thou
also take to thee the first aromatics, choice myrrh, in
weight five hundred minas, and sweet cinnamon of half
the weight, two hundred and fifty minas, and sweet cala¬
mus in weight two hundred and fifty minas, and cassia
in weight five hundred minas of shekels, in the shekel
of the sanctuary, and olive oil a vase full, in weight
twelve logas, a loga for each tribe of the twelve tribes.
ON EXODUS.
547
tfxx.]
[Jerusalem. And thou take to thee the chief goodly
spices, choice myrrh, in weight five hundred minas of
shekels.] And thou shalt make of it a holy anointing
oil, perfumed with perfume, the work of the perfumer,
of compounded perfumes : a holy anointing oil shall it
be. And with it anoint thou the tabernacle of ordi¬
nance, and the ark of the testimony, and the table and
all its vessels, and the candelabrum and its vessels, and
the altar of sweet incense, and the altar of burnt offering
and all its vessels, and the laver and its foundation, and
consecrate them, and they shall be most holy. Every
one of the priests who approacheth to them shall be sanc¬
tified; but of the rest of the tribes, (whoever toucheth
them) shall be consumed by the fiery flame from before
the Lord. But Aharon and his sons anoint thou, and
consecrate them to minister before Me. And speak
thou to the sons of Israel, saying, This shall be a holy
anointing oil before Me unto your generations. Upon
the flesh of man it may not be poured, and the like of it
you shall not make to resemble it ; unto you it shall be
most sacred. The man who compoundeth the like of it,
or putteth it upon the unconsecrated who are not of the
sons of Aharon, shall be destroyed from his people.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Take to thee spices,
balsam, and onycha, and galbanum, choice spices, and
pure frankincense, weight for weight shall it be. [Jeru¬
salem. Balsam, spikenard-myrrh, and galbanum.] And
confect therewith a fragrant incense, the work of the
compounder, a pure and sacred mixture. [Jerusalem.
Commixed.] And beat, and make it small, and of it
some shalt thou put before the testimony in the taber¬
nacle of ordinance, where I will appoint My Word to
be with thee. Most sacred shall it be to you. And of
the sweet incense thou shalt make, the like shall not be
made among you ; it shall be sacred to you before the
548
TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP*
Lord : the man who maketh the like of it to smell
thereto shall be destroyed from his people.
XXXI. And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying;
Look, Mosheh, I have called by name the good Bezalel1]
bar Uri bar Hur, of the tribe of Jehudah, and have
fulfilled him with the Spirit of holiness from before the
Lord, in wisdom and in intelligence, in knowledge, and
in all workmanship; to think in their thoughts so as to
work (perfectly) in gold, and in silver, and in brass;
and in the cutting of jewels for their insetting, and in
the carving of woods, to make all manner of work.
[Jerusalem. See, Mosheh, behold, I have anointed and
called by a good name Bezalel.] And, behold, I have
appointed with him Ahaliab bar Achisamah, of the
tribe of Dan ; and in the heart of every one wise*,
hearted I have added the Spirit of wisdom, that they
may perform all whatever I have commanded thee.
The tabernacle of ordinance, and the ark of the testi¬
mony, and the mercy seat which is over it ; and all the
vessels of the tabernacle; and the table, and ail its
vessels ; and the altar of sweet incense, and the altar
of burnt offering, and all its vessels ; and the laver, and
its foot ; and the vestments for ministration, the holy
vestments of Aharon the priest, and the vestments of his
sons for ministry; and the oil of anointing; and the
sweet incense- for the sanctuary ; even all whatever I
have commanded thee, they shall make.
And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying, Also, speak
thou with the sons .of Israel, saying, Ye shall keep the
day of My Sabbaths indeed ; for it is a sign between
My Word and you, that you may know that I am the
Lord who sanctify you. Ye shall keep the Sabbath,
because it is holy to you ; whosoever profaneth it, dying
he shall die; whoso doeth work therein, that man shall
‘ Or, " I have called by a good name Bezalel.”
ON EXODUS.
549
XXXII.]
be destroyed from his people. Six days ye shall do
work ; but the seventh day is Sabbath, the holy Sabbath
before the Lord. Whoso doeth work upon the Sabbath,
dying he shall die, by the casting of stones. The sons
of Israel shall therefore keep the Sabbath, to perform
the delightful exercises of the Sabbath ; (it is) for your
generations an everlasting statute; between My Word
and the sons of Israel it is a sign for ever. For in six
days the Lord created and perfected the heavens and
the earth ; and in the seventh day He rested and re¬
freshed.
And He gave to Mosheh, when He had finished to
speak with him in Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the
testimony, tablets of sapphire-stone from the throne of
glory, weighing forty sein, inscribed by the finger of the
Lord.
XXXII. But the people saw that Mosheh delayed to
come down from the mount, and the people gathered
together unto Aharon, when they saw that the time he
had appointed to them had passed ; and Satana had
come, and caused them to err, and perverted their hearts
with pride. And they said to him, Arise, make us
gods that shall go before us ; for as for this Mosheh, the
man who brought us up from the land of Mizraim, he
may have been consumed in the mountain by the fire
which flameth from before the Lord, (and) we know not
what hath befallen him in his end. And Aharon said
to them, Deliver the golden rings that are in the ears
of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring
them to me. And their wives denied themselves to give
their ornaments to their husbands ; and all the people
at once delivered up the golden rings which were in
their ears, and brought them to Aharon. And he took
them from their hands, and bound them in a wrapper,
and wrought it with a tool, having made a molten calf ;
550 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
and he said, These, Israel, are thy gods, which brought
thee forth from the land of Mizraim. For Aharon had
seen Hur slain before him, and was afraid; and he
builded an altar before him, and Aharon cried with a
doleful voice, and said, Let there be a feast before the
Lord to-morrow, of the sacrifice of the slain of these
adversaries who have denied their Lord, and have
changed the glory of the Shekinah of the Lord for this
calf. [Jerusalem. And Aharon saw Hur slain before
him, and was afraid ; and he builded an altar before
him, and Aharon cried and said, A feast.] And on the
day following, they arose, and sacrificed burnt-offerings ;
and the people sat around to eat and to drink, and rose
up to disport themselves with strange service. [Jeru¬
salem. And they rose up to disport themselves with
strange service.]
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Descend from the
greatness of thine honour ; for I have not given thee
greatness except on account of Israel. But now thy
people, whom thou didst bring up from the land of
Mizraim, have corrupted their works ; quickly have they
declined from the way which I taught them in Sinai,
(that) ye shall not make to yourselves image, or figure,
or any similitude ; for now have they made to them a
molten calf, and have worshipped it, and sacrificed to it,
and proclaimed before it, These are thy gods, Israel,
which brought thee up from the land of Mizraim. And
the Lord said to Mosheh, The pride of this people is
manifest before Me, and, behold, it is a people of hard
neck. And now, cease from thy prayer, and cry not
for them before Me ; for I will let My anger burn like
strong fire against them, and consume them, and I will
make thee a great people.
And Mosheh was shaken with fear, and began to
pray before the Lord his God ; and he said, Wherefore
ON EXODUS.
551
XXXII.]
should Thy wrath, 0 Lord, prevail against Thy people,
whom Thou didst bring up from the land of Mizraim,
with great power and with a mighty hand. Why
should the Mizraee who are remaining say, It was
for evil that He led them out, to kill them among the
mountains of Tabor and Hermon, and Sirion and Sinai,
and to destroy them from the face of the earth ? Turn
from Thy strong anger, and let there be relenting before
Thee over the evil that Thou hast threatened to do unto
Thy people. Eemember Abraham, and Izhak, and
Israel, Thy servants, to whom Thou didst swear in Thy
Word, and didst say to them, I will multiply your
children as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of
which I have told you will I give to your sons, and
they shall inherit for ever. And there was relenting
before the Lord over the evil which He had thought to
do unto His people. And Mosheh turned, and went
down from the mount, and the two tables of the testi¬
mony were in his hands, inscribed on their two sides,
here and there were they inscribed. And the tables
were the work of the Lord, and the writing was the
Lord's writing, inscribed and manifested upon the
tables.
And Jehoshua heard the voice of the people exulting
with joy before the calf. [Jerusalem. Doing evil.]
And he said to Mosheh, There is the voice of battle in
the camp. But he said, It is not the voice of the
strong, who are victorious in battle, nor the voice of the
weak, who are overcome by their adversaries in the
fight ; but the voice of them who serve with strange
service, and who make merriment before it, that I hear.
[Jerusalem. The voice of them who praise in strange
service.] And it was when Mosheh came near the
camp, and saw the calf, and the instruments of music
in the hands of the wicked, who were dancing and
552
TARGUM OF PALESTINE
[chap.
bowing before it, and Satana among them dancing and
leaping before the people, the wrath of Mosheh was
suddenly kindled, and he cast the tables from his hands, !
and brake them at the foot of the mountain ; — the holy i
writing that was on them, however, flew, and was car- j
ried away into the air of the heavens ; — and he cried, j
and said, Woe upon the people who heard at Sinai from
the mouth of the Holy One, Thou shalt not make to j
thyself an image, or figure, or any likeness, — and yet,
at the end of forty days, make a useless molten calf !
And he took the calf which they had made, and burned
it in fire, and bruised it into powder, and cast (it) upon
the face of the water of the stream, and made the sons
of Israel drink ; and whoever had given thereto any
trinket of gold, the sign of it came forth upon his
nostrils. And Mosheh said unto Aharon, What did
this people to thee, that thou hast brought upon them a
great sin ? And Aharon said, Let not my lord's anger
be strong : thou knowest the people, that they are the
children of the Just; but evil concupiscence hath made
them to err : and they said to me. Make us gods that
may go before us ; for this Mosheh, the man who
brought us up from the land of Mizraim, is consumed
in the mountain, by the flaming fire from before the
Lord, and we know not what hath been done to him in
his end. And I said to them, Whoever hath gold, let
him deliver and give it to me ; and I cast it into the
fire, and Satana entered into it, and there came out of
it the similitude of this calf ! And Mosheh saw that
the people were naked ; for they had been stripped by
the hand of Aharon of the holy crown which was upon
their head, inscribed and beautified with the great and
glorious Name ; and that their evil report would go
forth among the nations of the earth, and they would
get to them an evil name unto their generations. [Jeru-
XXXII.] ON EXODUS. 553
salem. And Mosheh saw the people that they were
uncovered ; for they had been stripped of the golden
crown which was upon their head, whereon the Name
had been engraven and set forth, at Mount Horeb.]
And Mosheh stood in the sanhedrin gate of the camp,
and said. Who feareth the Lord, let him come to me.
And there gathered to him all the sons of Levi. And
he said to them, Thus hath said the Lord, the God of
Israel, Whosoever hath sacrificed to the idols of the
Gentiles, let him be slain with the sword. And now,
go, pass through from the gate of the sanhedrin to the
gate of the house of judgment, in the camp, and with
prayer before the Lord that He will forgive you this sin,
take vengeance upon the wicked workers of strange
worship, and slay, even a man his brother, and a man
his companion, and a man his neighbour. And the
sons of Levi did according to the word of Mosheh ; and
of the people who had the mark in their nostrils there
fell that day by the slaughter of the sword about the
number of three thousand men.
And Mosheh said, Offer your oblation for the
shedding of the blood that is upon your hands, and
make atonement for yourselves before the Lord,
because you have smitten a man his son or his brother,
and that you may bring a blessing upon you this day.
And it came to pass on the day following, that Mosheh
said to the people, You have sinned a great sin; but
now I will go up and will pray before the Lord, if
haply I may obtain forgiveness of your sin. And
Mosheh returned, and prayed before the Lord, and
said, I supplicate of Thee, Thou Lord of all the world,
before whom the darkness is as the light ! Now have
this people sinned a great sin, and have made to them
gods of gold ; but now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin,
forgive ; but if not, blot me, I pray, from the book of
B B
554 TARGUM OE PALESTINE [CHAP.
tlie just, in the midst of which Thou hast written my
name. And the Lord said to Mosheh, It is not right
that I should blot out thy name ; but whosoever
sinneth before Me, him will I blot from My book.
But now, go lead the people to the place of which I
have told thee; behold. My angel shall proceed before
thee ; but in the day of My visitation I will visit upon
them their sin. And the Word of the Lord plagued
the people, because they had bowed themselves to the
calf that Aharon had made.
XXXIII. And the Lord spake with Mosheh, Go,
remove thee hence, lest My anger grow hot against the
people, and I consume them. Therefore proceed thou,
and the people whom thou didst bring up out of the
land of Mizraim, (to that land) which I have covenanted
unto Abraham, to Izhak, and to Jakob, saying, Unto
thy sons will I give it. And I will appoint before thee an
angel, and by his hand will cast out the Kenaanaee,
Amoraee, Hittaee, and Pherizaee, Hivaee, and Jebusaee ;
to the land producing milk and honey. For the Shekinah
of My Glory cannot go up among you, nor My Majesty
dwell in the habitation of their camp, because thou art
a hard-necked people, lest I destroy you in the way.
And the people heard this evil word, and mourned ;
and no man put on his accustomed ornaments,6 which
had been given them at Mount Sinai, and on which was
inscribed and set forth the great and holy Name. And
the Lord said to Mosheh, Speak to the sons of Israel,
Ye are a hard-necked people : were the glory of My
Shekinah to go up with you, in one little hour I should
destroy you. And now put thy accustomed ornaments 9
from thee, that it may be manifest before Me what I
may do to thee. And the sons of Israel were deprived
of their usual adornments,6 on which was written and
6 Or, “ appointed arms.”
XXXIII.] ON EXODUS. 555
set forth the great Name; and which had been given
them, a gift from Mount Horeb. And Mosheh took
and hid them in his tabernacle of instruction. But
the tabernacle he took away from thence, and spread it
without the camp, and removed it from the camp of the
people to the distance of two thousand cubits; and it
was called the Tabernacle of the House of Instruction :
and it was that when any one turned by repentance
with a true heart before the Lord, he went forth to the
Tabernacle of the House of Instruction that was without
the camp, to confess and pray for the pardon of his
sins ; and praying, he was forgiven. And it was wlien
Mosheh passed forth from the camp to go to the taber¬
nacle that all the wicked people arose, and stood, every
man at the door of his tent, and looked with the evil
eye after Mosheh, when he entered the tabernacle.
And it came to pass when Mosheh had gone into the
tabernacle, the column of the glorious Cloud descended
and stood at the door of the tabernacle ; and the Word
of the Lord spake with Mosheh. And all the people
beheld the column of the Cloud standing at the door of
the tabernacle, and the whole people at once rose up
and worshipped towards the tabernacle, standing every
man at the door of his tent.
And the Lord spake with Mosheh word for word, —
the voice of the word was heard, but the Majesty of the
Presence was not seen, — in the wray that a man con¬
versed with his companion : and after the speaking
voice had ascended, he returned to the camp, and deli¬
vered the word to the congregation of Israel. But his
minister, Jehoshua bar Nun, a young man, removed not
from the tabernacle. [Jerusalem. But his minister,
Jehoshua bar Nun, a young man, passed not from
within the tabernacle.]
And Mosheh said before the Lord, Lo, wrhat hast
2 b 2
556 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
Thou said to me, Take this people up ? but Thou hast
not made me to know whom Thou wilt send with me.
By Thy Word Thou hast said, I have ordained thee with
a goodly name, and thou hast found favour before Me.
But now I pray, if I have found mercy before Thee,
make me to know the way of Thy goodness, to under¬
stand Thy mercy when in Thy dealing with just men it
falleth to them as it (falleth) to the guilty, and to the
guilty as to the just ; but, on the contrary, how it
(indeed) befalleth the just according to their righteous¬
ness, and the guilty according to their guilt; that I
may find mercy before Thee, and it be made manifest by
Thee that this people is Thy people. And He said.
Await, until the face of My displeasure shall have gone
away, and afterward I will give thee rest. And he said
to Him, If Thy wrath go not from us, suffer us not to
go up from hence under the frown of Thy displeasure.
In what will it be known that I have found mercy
before Thee but in the converse of Thy Shekinah with
us, that distinguishing signs may be wrought for us, in
the withholdment of the Spirit of prophecy from the
nations, and by Thy speaking by the Holy Spirit to me
and to Thy people, that we may be distinguished from
all the peoples upon the face of the earth ? And the
Lord said to Mosheh, This thing also which thou hast
*poken of, will I do ; for thou hast found mercy before
tfe, and I have ordained thee with a goodly name.
Ind he said. Show now unto me Thy glory : but He
said, Behold, I will make all the measure of My good¬
ness pass before thee, and I will give utterance in the
name of the Word of the Lord before thee ; and I will
have compassion upon whom I see it right to have
compassion, and will be merciful to whom I see it
right ta have mercy. [Jerusalem:. And He said,
Behold, I will make all the measure of My goodness to
ON EXODUS.
557
XXXIV.]
pass before thee, and I will give utterance in the
good Name of the Lord before thee, and I will
have compassion upon whom I see it right to have
compassion, .and will be merciful upon whom I see it
right to have mercy.] And He said. Thou canst not
see the visage of My face ; for no man can see Me and
abide alive. And the Lord said, Behold, a place is
prepared before Me, and thou shalt stand upon the
rock. And it shall be that when the glory of My
Shekinah passeth before thee, I will put thee in a
cavern of the rock, and will overshadow thee with My
Word until the time that I have passed by. [Jeru¬
salem. And I will overshadow with My hand.] And
I will make the host of angels who stand and minister
before Me to pass by, and thou shalt see the hand-
border of the tephilla of My glorious Shekinah ; but the
face of the glory of My Shekinah thou canst not be able
to see. [Jerusalem. And I will cause the hosts of
angels who stand and minister before Me to pass by,
and will make known the oracle ; for the glory of My
Shekinah thou art not able to behold.
XXXIY. And the Lord said to Mosheh, Hew thee
two tables of stone, as the former, and write upon the
tables the words that were upon the former tables which
thou didst break ; and be ready in the morn ; and at
morning ascend thou Mount Sinai, and stand there before
Me on the summit of the mountain. No man shall
ascend with thee, nor any man be seen on all the
mountain, nor sheep, nor oxen grazing on the side of
the mount. And he hewed two tables of stone like the
former : and Mosheh arose in the morning and ascended
Mount Sinai, as the Lord had instructed him, and took
in his hand the two tables of stone.
And the Lord revealed Himself in the cloud of the
glory of His Shekinah, and Mosheh stood with Him
558 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
there ; and Mosheh called on the Name of the Word of
the Lord. And the Lord made His Shekinah to pass
by before his face, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord
God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and nigh in
mercies, abounding to exercise compassion and truth;
keeping mercy and bounty for thousands of generations,
absolving and remitting guilt, passing by rebellions, and
covering sins; pardoning them who convert unto the
law, but holding not guiltless in the great day of judg¬
ment those who will not convert ; visiting the sins of
fathers upon rebellious children upon the third and upon
the fourth generation. And Mosheh made haste and
bowed himself upon the earth and worshipped. [Jeru¬
salem. And the glory of the Shekinah of the Lord
passed by before him ; and Mosheh prayed, and said,
Lord, Lord God, merciful and gracious, slow to be
angry, but nigh to be merciful, and abounding to
exercise kindness and truth; keeping goodness for
thousands of generations ; absolving and remitting sin
and transgressions, but not to acquit the guilty in the
great day of judgment; and remembering the sins of
wicked fathers upon rebellious children upon the third
and upon the fourth generation. And Mosheh hastened
and prostrated himself upon the earth, and gave thanks
and glorified.]
And he said, If now I have found mercy before the
Lord, let the Shekinah of the' Glory of the Lord go, I
pray, among us ; for it is a people of hard neck ; but
pardon Thou our guilt and our sin, and give us the
inheritance of the land which Thou didst covenant unto
our fathers, and change us not to become an alien
people. And He said. Behold, I make covenant that I
will not change this people to become an alien people;
nevertheless from thee shall proceed a multitude of the
righteous ; and with all thy people will I do wondrous
ON EXODUS.
559
XXXIV.]
things in the time when they go into captivity by the
rivers of Bavel : for I will bring them up from thence,
and make them dwell from within the river Sambation ;
and like wonders shall not be created among all the
inhabitants of the earth, nor among any nation. And
all the people among whom thou wilt dwell shall see in
that day the work of the Lord ; for terrible is the thing
that I will do with thee.
Observe thou that which I command thee this day :
behold, I drive out from before thee the Amoraee, and
Kenaanaee, and Hittaee, and Pherizaee, and Hivaee, and
Jebusaee. Take heed to thee, lest thou strike covenants
with the inhabitants of that land into which thou art to
enter ; that it may not be a stumbling-block unto thee.
But thou shalt rather destroy their high places, and
break their statues, and cut down their groves ; for it
is not lawful for thee to worship other gods ; for the
Lord is zealous and avengeful ; His Name is God, the
Zealous and the Avenger. Lest thou strike covenant
with the dwellers in the land, and they draw thee astray
after their idols, and they sacrifice to their idols, and
invite thee, and thou eat of the sacrifices of their idols ;
and thou take of their daughters for thy sons, and when
their daughters wander after their idols they make thy
sons also go astray after their idols. [Jerusalem. And
they cause to err.] Molten gods you shall not make to you.
You shall observe the feast of the unleavened. Seven
days thou shalt eat unleavened (cakes), as I have
commanded thee, in the time of the month Abiba ; for
in the month of Abiba you came out free from Mizraim.
Whatever openeth the womb is Mine ; and of all cattle
thou art to consecrate the males, of oxen, and of sheep.
But the firstling of an ass thou mayest redeem with a
lamb ; but if thou redeem him not, thou shalt cut him
off with the blade. And each firstborn of thy sons thou
560 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP,
must redeem ; and they shall not appear before Me
empty. [Jerusalem. All firstlings opening the womb
thou shalt sanctify unto My Name; all the firstborn of
your males, the first that breaketh through the womb,
of oxen and of sheep. 20. My people of the house of
Israd, it shall not be allowed you to see the Lord your
God empty of any precept.]
Six days shalt thou work, and in the seventh day
have rest ; in ploughing time and in harvest thou shalt
rest. [Jerusalem. In ploughing.] The feast of weeks
also shalt thou make to thee in the time of the firsts of
the wheat harvest ; and the feast of ingathering at the
conclusion of the year. Three times in the year shall
all thy males appear before the Master of the world, the
Lord God of Israel. Tor I will drive out the nations from
before thee, and enlarge thy borders ; and no man shall
covet thy land at the time of thy going up to appear before
the Lord thy God thrice in the year.
You shall not sacrifice the victim of My passover
before you have done away with leaven ; nor suffer the
fat of the paschal sacrifice to remain about the altar till
the morning. [Jerusalem. You shall not sacrifice with
leaven the blood of the paschal victim, nor suffer the
flesh which you sacrifice on the night of the feast of the
first of Pascha to remain from the evening till the
morning.] The best of the firstfruits of your land ye shall
bring to the sanctuary of the Lord your God. You are not
allowed to boil or to eat flesh and milk mixed together,
lest My displeasure be kindled against you, and the
fruit of your trees, with the grapes in their branches and
their leaves, be laid waste together. [Jerusalem. The
first (best) of the firstfruits of your produce ye shall
bring to the sanctuary of the Lord your God.
My people of the house of Israel, ye shall not be
allowed to boil or to eat flesh and milk mixed together.]
XXXIV.] OX EXODUS. 561
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Write thou these
words ; for upon the expression of these words have I
stricken My covenant with thee, and with the people of
Israel. And he was there before the Lord forty days
and forty nights; he ate no bread, nor did he drink
water ; and he wrote upon the other tables the words of
the covenant, the Ten Words which had been written
upon the former tables.
And it wras at the time when Mosheh came down
from the mountain of Sinai, with the two tables ‘of the
testimony in the hand of Mosheh, in his descending from
the mount, that Mosheh knew not that the visage (form)
of his face shone with the splendour which had come
upon him from the brightness of the glory of the Lord's
Shekinah in the time of His speaking with him. [Jeru¬
salem. That the beams of his face did shiue.] And
Aharon and all the sons of Israel saw Mosheh, and,
behold, the glory of the form of his face shined, and
they were afraid to come near to him. And Mosheh
called to them and Aharon, and all the princes who
had been appointed chiefs in the congregation returned,
and Mosheh conversed with them. And afterward drew
nigh all the sons of Israel, and he taught them all that
the Lord had spoken to him on Mount Sinai. And
when Mosheh had finished to speak with them, he put
over the form of his face a veil. [Jerusalem. A cloth.]
And when Mosheh went in before the Lord to speak
with Him, he removed the veil from his countenance
until he came forth ; and he came forth and spake to
the sons of Israel what had been commanded. And
the sons of Israel saw the countenance of Mosheh, that
the glory of the form of Mosheh's face was shining.
And Mosheh replaced the veil upon his face until the
time of his going in to speak with Him.
2 b 5
562
TARGUM OF PALESTINE
[chap.
SECTION XXII.
YAIYAKHEL.
And Mosheli gathered together all the congregation
of the sons of Israel, and said to them : These are the
things which the Lord hath commanded to be done.
Six days thou shalt do work, and on the seventh day
there shall be to you the holy Sabbath of repose before
the Lord. Whoever doeth work on the Sabbath day,
dying he shall die by the casting of stones. My people
of the sons of Israel, ye shall not kindle a fire in any
place of your habitations on the day of the Sabbath.
[Jerusalem. Ye shall not kindle a fire in any place of
the house of your dwelling on the Sabbath day.]
And Mosheh spake to all the assembly of the chil¬
dren of Israel, saying, This is the word which the Lord
hath commanded, saying, Take of you a separation
before the Lord : -whosoever is moved in his heart, let
him present the separation for the Lord ; gold, or silver,
or brass, or hyacinth, or purple, or scarlet, or fine linen,
or goats' hair, or rams' skins dyed red, or skins of seals,
(purple skins,) and woods of sitta; or oil for the lights,
* aromatics for the anointing oil, and sweet incense ; the
onyx stones, and stones for completing the enchasement
of the ephoda and the breastplate. And let all the
wise-hearted among you give and make all that the
Lord hath commanded : The tabernacle, its tent, and its
covering, its hasps, and its boards, its bars, and its pil¬
lars, and its bases. [Jerusalem:. The tabernacle, and
its tent, and its covering, its hasps, and boards, and its
bars, its pillars, and its bases.] The ark, with its
staves, and the mercy seat, and the veil for the cover-
OK EXODUS.
563
XXXV. J
ing ; and the table, and its staves, and all its vessels,
and the bread for the Presence ; and the candelabrum
for illumination, with the lamps, and the oil for the
light ; and the altar of sweet incense, and its staves, and
the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the curtain
for the door of the tabernacle of ordinance ; the altar of
burnt offering, and its brasen grate, with its staves, and
its vessels, and the laver, with its base ; and the cur¬
tains of the court, with its pillars, and bases, and the
hanging for the gate of the court, and the pins of the
tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords ;
the vestments of ministration, for ministering in the
sanctuary, and the holy vestments for Aharon the priest,
and the vestments of his sons for ministering. And all
the congregation of the sons of Israel went out from
before Mosheh.
And every man whose heart moved him, and every
one who was filled with the Spirit of prophecy, came, and
brought what he had for a separation before the Lord
for the work of the tabernacle of ordinance, and for all
its service, and for the holy vestments. And with the
men came the women, every one whose heart was moved,
and brought chains, and necklaces, rings, bracelets, and
every ornament of gold ; every one offering up the
offering of gold before the Lord. And every one with
whom was found hyacinth, or purple, or crimson, or
fine linen, goats* hair, or purple skins, brought the
separation before the Lord ; and all with whom were
found woods of sitta for all the work of the service
brought. And every woman whose heart was wise spun
with her hands, and brought the spun work of hyacinth,
and purple, and crimson, and fine linen. And all the
women whose hearts were moved in wisdom spun goats*
hair (while) upon their bodies, and sheared them, being
alive. And the clouds of heaven went to the Phison, and
564 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
drew up from thence onyx stones, and stones for infilling,
to enchase the epliod and the breastplate, and spread
them upon the face of the wilderness ; and the princes of
Israel went, and brought them for the need of the work.
And the clouds of heaven returned, and went to the gar¬
den of Eden, and took from thence choice aromatics, and
oil of olives for the light, and pure balsam for the
anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. Every man, a
son of Israel, and (every) woman, a daughter of Israel,
who was moved in heart, brought for all the work which
the Lord by Mosheh had commanded to be made; so
brought the children of Israel the votive gift before the
Lord.
And Mosheh said to the sons of Israel, See, the
Lord hath ordained with a good name Bezalel bar Uri
bar Hur, of the tribe of Jehudah, and hath filled him
with the Spirit of prophecy from before the Lord, in
wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all
handicraft; and to instruct artificers to work in gold,
and in silver, and in brass, and in the cutting of
precious stones, to perfect by them the work, and in the
fabrication of wood, to work in all the work of arti¬
ficers. [Jerusalem. And in the cutting of precious
stones for completion, and the workmanship of wood,
to work in all the work of the artificer.] And to teach
art-work to the rest of the artificers he imparted skill to
his heart, and to (that of) Ahaliab bar Achisamak, of
the tribe of Dan. He filled them with wisdom of
heart to make all the work of the carpenter and the
embroiderer, in hyacinth, and in purple, and in crimson,
and in fine linen ; and of the sewer, to fashion all the
work, and to teach the workmen.
XXXVI. And Bezalel and Ahaliab wrought, and
every man wise in heart, to wrhom the Lord had given
wisdom and intelligence to understand and to make all
ON EXODUS.
565
XXXVI.]
the work for the service of the sanctuary, according to
all that the Lord had commanded. And Mosheh called
Eezalel and Ahaliab, and every man wise in heart, to
whose heart the Lord had given wisdom, every one
whose heart was moved, to draw near, and do the work
itself. And they took from before Mosheh all the
separation that the children of Israel had brought for
the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it.
And they still brought to him the voluntary gift, morn¬
ing after morning, from their possessions. [Jerusalem.
The gift.] And all the wise men who did all the work
of the sanctuary came, each man from the work which
he had done; and they said to Mosheh, The people
abound in bringing (more) than is enough for the service
of the work, which the Lord hath ordained. And
Mosheh commanded, and they made proclamation
through the camp, saying, Neither man nor woman may
make any more work for the holy separation : and the
people ceased from bringing. Lor what had been done
was according to the sufficiency of all the work ; and
they did it, and had more than enough.
And all the wise in heart made the Tabernacle ; ten
curtains of fine linen, and hyacinth, and purple, and
scarlet, figured with kerubin, the work of the
embroiderer, he made them. The length of one cur¬
tain twenty and eight cubits, the sum of one curtain ;
the measure was one for all the curtains. And he con¬
joined five* curtains one with another, and (the other)
five curtains conjoined he one with another. And he
made loops of hyacinth upon the edge of one curtain, at
the place of conjunction in the side ; so made he in the
side at the place of conjunction in the other curtain.
[Jerusalem. In the jointure.] Fifty loops he made in
one curtain, and fifty loops made he at the place of
juncture of the edge of the second curtain; the loops
566 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
•were arranged one over against the other. [Jerusalem.
Answering to each other.] And he made fifty taches of
gold, and conjoined one curtain with another with the
taches, and there was one tabernacle. And he made
curtains of goats’ hair to spread upon the tabernacle :
eleven curtains he made them. The length of one cur¬
tain thirty cubits, and four cubits the breadth of one
curtain ; one measure for the eleven curtains. And he
joined five curtains together, corresponding with the
five books of the law ; and six curtains together,
corresponding with the six orders of the Mishna. And he
made fifty loops in the border of the curtain at the place
of conjuncture, and fifty loops made he upon the border
of the curtain at the second place of conjuncture. And
he made taches of brass to compact the tabernacle, that
it might become one. And he made a covering for the
tabernacle of rams’ skins reddened, and of purple skins to
protect it above. And he made the boards of the taber¬
nacle of sitta wood, standing up, after the way of their
plantation ; ten cubits the length of the board, and a cubit
and a half of a cubit the breadth of one board. Each board
had two tenons arranged, one side for the midst of the
other side ; and so did he for all the boards of the taber¬
nacle. And he made the boards of the tabernacle twenty
boards on the side of the south wind ; and forty sockets
of silver he made under the twenty boards ; two sockets
beneath one board for its two tenons, and two sockets
under another board for its two tenons. And for the
second side of the tabernacle on the north he made
twenty boards, and their forty sockets of silver; two
sockets beneath one board, and two sockets beneath
another board. And to the border of the tabernacle west¬
ward he made six boards, and two boards made he at the
corners of the tabernacle at their extremes. [Jerusalem.
At the declivities.] And they were conjoined below, and
XXXVII.] ON EXODUS. 567
joined together were they at their tops with one ring ; so
made he both of them at the two corners. [Jerusalem.
And they were twins.] And eight boards there were, and
their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets ; two sockets, and
two sockets under one board. And he made bars of sitta
wood ; five for the boards of one side of the tabernacle,
and five bars for the boards of the second side of the
tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle
at the ends westward. And he made the middle bar to
mortise in the midst of the boards from end to end, — of
the tree which our father Abraham planted in Beira of
Sheba, praying therein the Name of the Word of the
Lord, the everlasting God. [Jerusalem. And he made
the middle board to go along among the boards.] And
the boards he overlaid with gold, and the rings he made
of gold, as the place for the bars ; and he covered the
bars with gold.
And he made the Yeil of hyacinth, and purple, and
crimson, and fine linen twined, the work of the arti¬
ficer ; figured with kerubin he made it. And he made
for it four pillars of sitta wood, and covered them with
gold, and their hooks of gold, and cast for them four
sockets of silver. And he made a curtain for the door
of the tabernacle, of hyacinth, and purple, and crimson,
and fine linen twined, the work of the embroiderer, and
its five pillars, and their five hooks ; and he covered
their capitals and their joinings with gold, and their five
bases with brass.
XXXYII. And Bezalel made the Ark of sitta wood ;
two cubits and a half its length, and a cubit and half
its breadth, and a cubit and half its height. And he
covered it with pure gold within and without, and made
for it a crown of gold round about. And he cast for it
four golden rings upon its four corners; two rings
upon one side of it, and two rings upon its second side.
568 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
And he made the staves of it of sitta wood, and covered
them with gold, and put the staves into the rings upon
the sides of the ark, to carry the ark.
And he made the Mercy Seat of pure gold ; two
cubits and a half the length, and a cubit and half its
breadth ; but its thickness was a span. And he made
two kerubin of pure gold, beaten made he them, on the
two sides of the mercy seat. One keruba on this side,
and one keruba on that side, of beaten work ; and the
kerubin were face to face. They were not separated
from the mercy seat ; but by the wisdom of the Spirit of
prophecy, he made the kerubin on its two sides. And
the kerubaia spread forth their wings, with their heads
upward, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings,
and their faces were toward each other, over against the
mercy seat were the faces of the kerubaia.
And he made the Table of sitta wood, two cubits its
length, and a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and half its
height. And he covered it with pure gold, and made
for it a golden crown round about. And he made a
border for it, its height a span round about. [Jeru¬
salem. A border, a span around, and he made a
coronal of gold for the surrounding border.] And he
made a crown of gold for the border round about.
And he cast for it four golden rings, and set the rings
upon the four corners of its four feet. Over against
the border were the rings, the place for the staves in
carrying the table. And he made the staves of sitta
wood, and covered them with gold, for carrying the
table. And he made the vessels to be upon the table,
its dishes, and its bowls, and its measures, and its cups
for the lavings,7 of pure gold.
And he made the Candelabrum of pure gold, beaten
made he the candelabrum ; its base and its shaft, its
7 Cqstel, col. 1332.
xxxvm.] on exodus. 569
cups, its apples, and its lilies were of the same. And
six branches came forth from its sides ; three branches
of the candelabrum on one side, and three branches of
the candelabrum on the second side. Three embossed
cups with their figurations on one branch, with the
apple and lily, and three embossed cups with their
figurations on the other branch, with the apple and
lily; so the six branches which proceeded from the
candelabrum. And upon the candelabrum, four
embossed cups with their figurations of apples and
lilies. And an apple (was) under two branches of the
same, and an apple under two branches of the same,
and an apple under two branches of the same, for the
six branches that proceeded from it. Their apples and
their branches were of the same, all of it one beaten
work of pure gold : of a talent of pure gold made he it,
and all its vessels.
And he made the Altar oe sweet Incense of sitta
wood, a cubit its length, and a cubit its breadth, four¬
square, and two cubits was its height ; its two upright
horns were of the same. And he overlaid it with pure
gold, its top and its sides round about, and its horns;
and he made for it a golden crown round about. And
two golden rings he made for it under its crown, at its
two corners, upon its two sides, to be the place of the
staves by which to carry it. And the staves he made
of sitta wood, and overlaid them with gold. And he
made the sacred oil of anointing, and the pure sweet
incense, the work of the perfumer.
XXXVIII. And he made the Altar of Burnt
Offering of sitta wood ; five cubits its length, and five
cubits its breadth, four-square, and three cubits its
height. And he made horns upon its four corners ; of
the same were its horns stretching upward ; and he
covered it with brass. And he made all the vessels of
570 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
the altar ; the pots, and the cleaners, and the basins,
and the fleshhooks, and the pans, all its vessels made
he of brass. And he made the grate of the altar, of
brasen network under the border beneath, reaching to
the middle of it, to receive the cinders and bones that
fell from the altar. And he cast four rings, for the
four corners of the grate, of brass, (to be) places for the
staves. And he made the staves of sitta wood, and
coated them with brass. And he put the staves into
the rings, upon the sides of the altar, to carry it by
them : hollow with boards, and filled with earth made
he it.
And he made the brasen Laver, and its foundation of
brass, from the brasen mirrors of the pious women,
who, at the season, came to pray at the door of the
tabernacle of appointment, standing with their oblations,
giving thanks and confession, and returning to their
husbands, the mothers of righteous children, who had
been purified from the uncleanness of their blood.
[Jerusalem. And he made the laver of brass, and the
base thereof of brass, with the mirrors of the pious
women who were devout at the gate of the tabernacle of
appointment.] And he made the court ; on the
southern side, the curtains of the court (made he) with
fine linen, a hundred cubits, their pillars twenty, and
their bases twenty, of brass ; the hooks of the pillars and
their rods were of silver. And on the north side, a
hundred cubits, their pillars twenty, and their bases
twenty, of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their
rods were of silver. And the curtains of the western
side, fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their bases ten ;
the hooks of the pillars, and their rods, were of silver.
And on the east side, eastward, fifty cubits. And the
curtains were fifteen cubits on a side; their pillars three,
and their bases three. And for the second side of the
XXXVIII.] ON EXODUS. 571
door of the court, here and there, at the gate of the
court,’ curtains fifteen cubits, their pillars three and
their bases three. All the curtains of the court round
about were of fine linen twined. And the bases of the
pillars were of brass, the hooks of the pillars and their
rods of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals
silver, and the rods silver; so were made all the pillars
of the court. And the hanging for the gate of the
court was made of embroidered work in hyacinth, and
purple, and crimson, and fine linen twined ; and twenty
cubits (was) the length, and the height on its breadth
five cubits, corresponding with the curtains of the court.
And their pillars four, and their bases four, of brass ;
their hooks silver, and the overlaying of their capitals,
and their rods, silver. But all the pins of the taber¬
nacle, and of the court round about, were of brass.
SECTION XXIII.
PEKUDEY.
These are the sums, weights, and numbers of the
Tabernacle of the Testimony, which were counted by
the word of the mouth of Mosheh. But the service of
the Levites was by the hand of Ithamar bar Aharon the
priest. And Bezalel bar Uri bar Hur, of the tribe of
Jehudah, made all that the Lord had commanded
Mosheh ; and with him, Ahaliab bar Achisamak, of the
tribe of Dan, a worker in wood, and an artificer, and an
embroiderer in hyacinth, and in purple, and in crimson,
and in fine linen.
572
TARGUM OP PALESTINE
[chap.
All the gold that was used in making the whole work
of the sanctuary, and it was the amount of the gold of
the oblation, (was) twenty and nine talents, and seven
hundred and thirty shekels, in the shekel of the sanc¬
tuary. This was the gold of the oblation, which every
man of the sons of Israel, whose heart was willing, had
offered as a separation. And the silver of them who
were numbered of the sons of Israel, who gave at the
time when Mosheh numbered them, every one for the
redemption of his soul, a hundred talents, and a
thousand and seven hundred and seventy and five
shekels, of the shekel of the sanctuary. A drachma for
(each) head, a half shekel of the shekel of the sanctuary,
for every one who passed to the numberments, from
twenty years and upwards, for six hundred and thirty
thousand and five hundred and fifty (men). And there
were a hundred talents of silver for casting the bases of
the sanctuary, and the bases of the veil, a hundred
bases, answering to the talents, a talent for a base.
And with the thousand and seven hundred and seventy
and five shekels, he made hooks for the pillars, and the
overlaying of their capitals and their rods. And the
brass of the oblation was seventy talents, and two thou¬
sand and four hundred shekels. And he made with it
the bases of the gate of the tabernacle of ordinance,
and the brasen altar, and the brasen grate for it, and all
the vessels of the altar. And the bases of the court
round about, and the bases of the gate of the court, and
all the pins of the tabernacle, and all the pins of the
court round about.
XXXIX. And of the hyacinth, and purple, and
crimson, they made the vestments of ministration, to
minister in the sanctuary. And they made the holy
vestments of Aharon the priest, as the Lord had com¬
manded Mosheh. And he made the ephoda of gold.
ON EXODUS.
573
XXXIX.]
hyacinth, and purple, and fine linen twined. And they
beat out the plates of gold, and cut them into threads
to inwork with the hyacinth, and the purple, and the
crimson, and the fine linen, the work of the artificer.
Shoulderpieces made they for it conjoined; upon its
two sides were they conjoined. And its ordered band 8
that was upon it was of the same ; it was according to
its work, of gold, hyacinth, and purple, and crimson,
and fine linen twined, even as the Lord had commanded
Mosheh. And they wrought the jewels of onyx,
enchased, set, inwrought, graved with graven waiting,
setting forth the names of the sons of Israel. And he
set them on the shoulders of the ephoda, as stones of
memorial for the sons of Israel, as the Lord commanded
Mosheh.
And he made the Breastplate, the work of the arti¬
ficer, according to the work of the ephoda, of gold,
hyacinth, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen
twined. Foursquare was it; doubled they made the
breastplate, a span its length, and a span its breadth.
[Jerusalem. A palm its length, and a palm its
breadth, doubled.] And they filled it with four rows
of precious gems, ( margalyan ,) corresponding with the
four corners of the world. The first rowr, carnelian,
topaz, and carbuncle, row one : and upon them were
engraven and expressed the names of three tribes,
Beuben, Shimeon, and Levi. And the name of the
second row, smaragd, and sapphire, and chalcedony :
and upon them was inscribed and set forth the name
of three tribes, Jehudah, Dan, and Naphtali. And
the name of the third row, figure, agate, and amethyst :
and upon them inscribed and set forth the name of
three tribes, Gad, Asher, and Issakar. And the name
of the fourth row, chrysolite, and onyx, and jasper : and
8 Or, “ girdle of ordination.”
574 TARGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
upon them inscribed and set forth the name of three
tribes, Zebulon, Joseph, and Benjamin : enchased and
set in gold in their infillings. And the gems were
according to the names of the sons of Israel, twelve,
according to their names; the writing engraven, in¬
scribed, and set forth as the engraving of a ring ; each
man's gem according to his name in the twelve tribes.
And they made upon the breastplate wreathen chains,
entwined work, of pure gold. And they made two
sockets of gold, and two golden rings, and set the two
rings on the two sides of the breastplate. And they put
the two entwinements of gold within the two rings upon
the two sides of the breastplate, and the two chains that
were arranged on the two sides they fastened upon the
two sockets, and set them on the shoulders of the
eplioda, toward its front. And they made two golden
rings, and set them upon the two sides of the breast¬
plate, upon its edge, that was on the border of the
ephod inward. And they made two golden rings, and
arranged them upon the two shoulders of the ephod
below, toward its front, over against the place of con-
joinment above the band of the ephod, and fitted the
breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod by a
ribbon of hyacinth, that it might adhere to the band of
the ephod, and that the breastplate be not loosened
from being upon the ephod, as the Lord commanded
Mosheh.
And he made the mantle-robe, a work of the weaver,
of twined thread of hyacinth. And the aperture of the
upper robe (was) double in the midst, like the opening of
a piece of armour, with a border round about its edge, that
it might not be torn. And they made upon the bottom
of the upper robe pomegranates of hyacinth, and purple,
and crimson, and (fine linen) entwined. And they made
golden bells, and set the bells among the pomegranates
XXXIX.] ON EXODUS. 575
upon the border of the mantle-robe, round about among
the pomegranates ; a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and
a pomegranate, all of them seventy upon the bottom of
the upper robe round about to minister in ; as the Lord
commanded Mosheh.
And they made the plate of the crown of holiness of
pure gold, and wrote upon it, inscribed, engraven, and
set forth, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. And they
set upon it a twined ribbon of hyacinth, to put it upon
the tiara above the forehead ; as the Lord commanded
Mosheh.
And all the work of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of
ordinance, was completed : and the sons of Israel did as
the Lord commanded Mosheh, so did they. And they
brought the tabernacle to Mosheh at his house of
instruction, (leth Midrash,) where sat Mosheh, and
Aharon, and his sons, where he gave direction to them
concerning the order of the priesthood ; and there (also)
sat the elders of Israel. And they brought to him the
tabernacle and all its vessels ; its taches, its boards, its
bars, its pillars, and its bases ; and the covering of
reddened rams' skins, and the covering of purple skins,
and the veil that was to be spread ; and the ark of the
testimony, and its staves, and the mercy seat, and the
kernbaia produced of beaten work of the same, the one
here, and the other there ; and the table, and all its ves¬
sels, and the bread of faces ; and the candelabrum, and
its lamps, the lamps of order, which were ordained to
correspond to the seven stars, that rule in their pre¬
scribed places in the firmament by day and by night ;
and the oil for the lights, and the golden altar, and the
consecration oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging
for the door of the tabernacle ; and the brasen altar, and
its brasen grate, and its staves, and all its utensils ; and
the laver, and its base ; the curtain-work of the court,
576 TAUGUM OF PALESTINE [CHAP.
and its pillars, and tlie bases, and the veil of the gate of
the court, its cords, and pins, and all the vessels for the
service of the tabernacle, even the tabernacle of ordi¬
nance ; and the vestments of ministration for minister¬
ing in the sanctuary, the holy vestments of Aharon the
priest, and the vestments of his sons, to minister.
According to all that the Lord had commanded
Mosheh, so had the sons of Israel made all the ser¬
vice. And Mosheh surveyed all the service, and,
behold, they had made it as the Lord had commanded,
so had they made it. And Mosheh blessed them, and
said, May the Shekinah of the Lord dwell within the
work of your hands !
XL. And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying, On
the day of the first month, that is the month of Nisan,
on the first of the month, thou shalt rear up the taber¬
nacle, the tabernacle of ordinance. And thou shalt set
there the ark of the testimony, and overlay the ark with
the mercy seat. And thou shalt bring in the table on
the north side, because from thence are given riches ; for
from thence distil the drops of the latter rain upon the
herbs, for the food of the inhabiters of the world ; and
thou shalt arrange its orders, two rows of bread, com¬
prising six cakes in a row, answering to the tribes of
Jakob. And thou shalt bring in the candelabrum, on
the south side, because there are the paths of the sun
and of the moon, and the pathways of the luminaries ;
and thence are the treasures of the wisdom which
resembleth the light. And thou shalt kindle the seven
lamps, corresponding to the seven stars which resemble
the just, who shine unto eternity in their righteousness.
And thou shalt place the golden altar for sweet incense
before the ark of the testimony ; because the wise who arc
diligent in the law have a perfume fragrant as the sweet
incense. And thou shalt set the veil at the gate of the
ON EXODUS.
577
XL.]
tabernacle ; because the righteous so covereth with their
righteousness the people of the house of Israel. And
thou shalt place the altar of burnt offering before the
door of the tabernacle of ordinance ; because the rich,
who spread the table before their doors and feed the
poor, shall have their sins forgiven what time they make
the offering upon the altar. And thou shalt place the
laver between the tabernacle of ordinance and the altar,
and put water therein for the sins of such as convert by
repentance, and pour off their perversity like water.
And thou shalt place the court round about, because of
the merit of the fathers of the world, which encom-
passeth the people of the house of Israel round about.
And thou shalt set the hanging of the gate of the court
on account of the merit of the mothers of the world,
which spreadeth at the gate of Gehennam, that none
may enter there of the souls of the children of the peo¬
ple of Israel. And thou shalt take the consecration-oil,
and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and
shalt sanctify it, on account of the crown of the kingdom
of the house of Jehudah, and of the King Meshiha, who
is to redeem Israel at the end of the days. And thou
shalt anoint the altar of burnt offering, and all its ves¬
sels, and consecrate the altar, that it may be an altar
most holy, on account of the crown of the priesthood of
Aharon, and his sons, and of Elijah, the great Priest
who is to be sent at the end of the captivity. And thou
shalt anoint the laver, and its base, and consecrate it, on
account of Jehoshua thy minister, chief of the sanhedrin
of his people ; by whose hand the land of Israel is to be
partitioned : and of Meshiha bar Ephraim, who shall
spring from him, by whose hand the house of Israel is
to vanquish Gog and his confederates at the end of the
days.
c c
578 TARGUM OP PALESTINE [CHAP.
And thou shalt bring Aharon and his sons to the
door of the tabernacle of ordinance, and wash them with
water, and clothe Aharon with the holy vestments, and
anoint him, and consecrate him ; that he may minister
before Me. And his sons thou shalt bring near, and
dress them with tunics, and anoint them, as thou didst
anoint their father, that they may minister before Me ;
and their consecration shall be for a perpetual priesthood
in their generations.
And Mosheh did all that the Lord commanded, so did
he. And it was in the first month, that is, the month
Nisan, in the second year, in the first of the month, that
he reared up the tabernacle. And Mosheh reared the
tabernacle, and placed its bases, and set its boards, and
placed its bars, and reared its pillars. And he spread
the tent over the tabernacle, and placed the covering of
the tabernacle upon it above, as the Lord commanded
Mosheh. And he took the two tables of stone, the
tables of the covenant which were given to him in
Horeb, and set them up for a sign in the House of
Instruction : they are the tables of the testimony. And
the broken tables (he deposited) in the ark. And he
set the staves in the ark, and placed the mercy seat,
with the kerubaia that were produced for it of beaten
work, upon the ark above. And he brought the ark
into the tabernacle, and set the veil of the covering, and
shadowed there with the ark of the testimony, as the
Lord commanded Mosheh.
And he placed the table in the tabernacle of ordinance,
at the side of the tabernacle northward without the veil,
and set in order upon it the rows of bread before the
Lord, as the Lord commanded Mosheh. [Jerusalem.
And he set in order upon it the order of the bread of
faces before the Lord.] And he placed the candelabrum
ON EXODUS.
XL.] ON EXODUS. 579
in the tabernacle of ordinance, over against the table
upon the side of the tabernacle southward, and
kindled the lamps before the Lord, as the Lord com¬
manded Mosheh. And he set the golden altar in the
tabernacle of ordinance before the veil, and burned sweet
incense upon it, as the Lord commanded Mosheh. And
he set the hanging at the gate of the tabernacle. And
the altar of burnt offering he placed at the gate of the
tabernacle, and offered thereon the burnt offering and
the oblation, as the Lord commanded Mosheh. And he
set the laver upon its foundation between the tabernacle *
of ordinance and the altar, and put living water therein
for purification, that it may not fail, nor become corrupt
all the days. And Mosheh, and Aharon, and his sons,
took from it for their ablutions, and sanctified there¬
with their hands and their feet; at the time they
entered into the tabernacle of ordinance, or approached
unto the altar, they purified themselves, as the Lord
commanded Mosheh. And he reared up the court
round about the tabernacle and the altar, and placed the
hanging which was for the gate of the tabernacle. And
Mosheh completed the work.
Then the Cloud of Glory overspread the tabernacle of
ordinance, and the glory of the Shekinah of the Lord
filled the tabernacle. And Mosheh was not able to
enter the tabernacle of ordinance, because the Cloud of
Glory rested upon it, and the glory of the Lord's
Shekinah filled the tabernacle.
At the time when the Cloud of Glory ascended from
the tabernacle, the sons of Israel went forward in all their
journeys ; but if the Cloud of Glory went not up, they
did not go forward until the day when it ascended. For
the Cloud of the Glory of the Lord overspread the taber¬
nacle by day, and (as) a column of fire it gave light in
2 c 2
580 TARGUM OF PALESTINE ON EXODUS.
the night, that all the sons of Israel might see in all
their journeys. [Jerusalem. Because the Cloud of the
Glory of the Lord's Shekinah overspread the tabernacle
by day, and a fire shined upon it all the nights ; all the
sons of Israel seeing in all their journeys.]
END OF THE PALESTINIAN TARGUM
ON THE SEPHER SHEMOTH.
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